Best known for his background in aquatic ecology, Joe brought a remarkable breadth of expertise to his work, including environmental impact assessments and fish and fisheries management. He had a gift for research, often uncovering obscure and invaluable literature sources that informed marine resource assessments, environmental baseline studies, and other complex projects. A dedicated scholar, Joe reviewed the Federal Register daily and eagerly shared updates with colleagues to ensure that work across projects stayed informed and current.

Joe’s curiosity extended far beyond marine science. A devoted history buff, Joe loved recounting historical events—especially wars and battles—and often shared fascinating details that reflected his deep appreciation for how the past shapes the present.

I first met Joe while working in the Marine Science Department at Geo-Marine, Inc., where we collaborated on Marine Resource Assessments (MRAs) for the U.S. Navy. These comprehensive documents—spanning regions from the U.S. East Coast and Hawaii to the Mediterranean Sea and Pacific Islands—played a critical role in mitigating potential impacts to marine resources from Navy activities. Joe was a critical part of those efforts, contributing his expertise while generously mentoring junior scientists and sharing his knowledge.

Over the years, Joe continued to provide exceptional support on a wide range of marine research and conservation projects and became an integral part of Azura’s work. Whether researching seabird distribution off Suriname or potential impacts to fish from offshore wind development along the U.S. East Coast, Joe could always be counted on to dive deep into the literature and deliver thoughtful, thorough research. Even when he wasn’t actively on a project, he would send along new articles, policy updates, or simply words of encouragement when they were needed most.

Joe’s intellectual curiosity and unwavering kindness left a lasting impression on everyone who had the privilege of working with him. He is deeply missed—not only for his scientific contributions, but for the warmth, generosity, and humanity he shared so freely. His compassion and love of learning live on in the people he inspired—and in the way even animals, like the cat in this photo, were drawn to his gentle spirit. We are grateful to have known and worked alongside him.