“Pickin’ on Joah”, Empire to remember a gentle giant
From staff reports
This Sunday, May 26, from 4-6 p.m. at the Village Inn in Empire, the Empire Area Community Emergency Fund will hold its monthly fund-raising concert to honor and celebrate the memory of Joah Dye, a beloved member of the community — not a musician, but rather a lover of music, people and life. The performers have chosen to “headline” Joah at this event. Among some of his favorite musicians are Chris Skellenger, Tom Fordyce, Norm Wheeler, Paul Koss and Patrick Niemisto who lovingly coined this event “Pickin’ On Joah”.
Joah was a very special person indeed. He had come to live in Empire about 17 years ago and his presence brought a very precious gift to our community. With an amazing ability to meet people he would very quickly learn and remember not just their names but the most intimate details of their lives.
He was a gentle giant whose glass was always half full. He loved people and he loved to have fun with them. Once he got to know you look out because he’d show his affection for you by very playfully yet skillfully pickin’ on you. He fondly referred to Community Emergency Fund founder Gerry Shiffman, for example, as “that crazy old hippie”. He was wise beyond his years and had a very special way of teaching you how to laugh at yourself. He touched us deeply and our lives have all been enriched by him.
On May 1, after a two year battle with melanoma, Joah passed away at home in Empire at the age of 35. On Sunday, May 26, as a community we plan to do what he loved most. Gather at a restaurant, enjoy the company of fine people, listen to great music and have a tremendous amount of fun “Pickin’ On Joah”
