Whenever I come across an image of this small painting, Grind, from back in 2006 I think of my friend, Joe DeAngelo, who along with his wife, Kathy, runs the Kada Gallery in Erie. I was greatly saddened yesterday to learn that he had passed away on Monday night at an Erie hospital.
I have been with their gallery since 1996 and while Kathy is the unmistakable and unrelenting energy source of the gallery, Joe has always been the engine, the working force, that keeps it going. He gets things done. So, when he chose this painting for himself many years ago, I was very pleased. Joe told me that he identified with this painting because it really represented how he saw himself– as a grinder, a shoulder against the wheel worker who persisted through all conditions until the job was done.
Joe was a grinder in other ways, as well. He had medical issues for many years including a kidney transplant. In recent years he suffered a major heart attack that drained him physically. Yet, grinder that he was, he refused to stop working every day at the gallery where he was, with his lifetime of engineering experience, a meticulous and top notch framer. As his condition worsened in recent months, he still made his way to the gallery each and every day, against the protestations of doctors and family, because he felt it was his duty and purpose.
As I said, Joe was a grinder.
I am going to miss Joe’s straight forward manner along with his balanced blend of crustiness– he didn’t suffer fools easily– and great humor. He had a great laugh that came quickly. I always enjoyed my time spent chatting over coffee with him when I was at the gallery. A truly good guy with a big heart and a deep love for his family.
Along with many other folks, I am going to greatly miss my friend, Joe. Hopefully, he can now put down that rope and rest.
Redtree Times 
This is a fine tribute to someone who seems to have been an extraordinarily fine person. I’m sorry for your loss, but happy for the support you received from him, and from Kathy, over the years.
Yes, they were among the first galleries to take me on and without their support I am not sure where I would be as an artist. I will definitely miss my friend Joe. He was, simply put, just a good guy. That’s high praise for me.
Sorry about your friend. He must have been very special. That is a wonderful piece you painted. So small, yet says so much.
Gary, I love this so much. We are heartbroken. Thank you…..
Can’t even imagine. I was heartbroken speaking with your Mom yesterday. Thinking of you all.
Mr. Myers,
Thank you for the heartfelt and quite accurate words describing my brother Joe. He was indeed a good friend to all and a hard worker. All of us siblings, and there were many, had the same sets of hard work, faith in God and values drilled into us by traditional Italian parents but Joe is the only one who never got the ‘vacation gene’ as Kathy has said. He will be missed by all of us, family and friends, and if we could all write one special thing about Joe in a book the pages would be filled with wonderful memories.
Thank you for your entry about Joe. Since I visited Kada Gallery many times over the years, my conversations with Joe were as you described. I recalled laughing heartily over his direct comments, especially about cars, family, Italian meals… I will miss him oh so much!
I’m going to miss that laugh, Angela. And th e obvious love and pride he exhibited for Kathy, his kids and grandkids. Such a good man!