The Franklin-Sterling Hill mineral collecting community lost a friend and a significant contributor to the mineral science of this mining district on December 26, 2008.
Joe was a life member of the Franklin Mineral Museum (FMM) and the Sterling Hill Mining Museum. He was a member of the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society, Inc., the New York Microscopical Society and several other mineral clubs in New Jersey.
He was a board member of the FMM. Since he was proficient in determining the optical properties of minerals, Joe was given the title of Science Curator for the museum. In this role he determined the optical properties of many minerals which were beyond visual identification. The identification of two recent minerals, pyroxferroite and opal, occurred through Joe’s efforts in conjunction with the assistance of the Hudson Institute of Mineralogy.
Joe had recently accepted a position as associate editor of The Picking Table, the journal of the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society, Inc., and authored one article appearing in this issue. He also provided the technical review of other articles appearing in this issue.
His friendly demeanor and his volunteer scientific efforts on behalf of the local mineral community will be missed.
From the The Picking Table, Volume 50
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