Joseph W. Cechario, 56, of St. Petersburg, formerly of Key West, FL passed away at Bay Pines VA Health Care System under the care of Hospice of the Florida Suncoast.
Born in Dorchester, MA, he moved to St. Petersburg from Ft. Lauderdale in early 2008. He owned A Shade Better Painting Contractors in Pompano Beach for 12 years. He was a US Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War serving in the US and earning the rank of Private First Class. He was of the Catholic Faith. He loved all things with the sea, becoming a boat captain known as Captain Joe and an avid fisherman.
Survivors include his wife, Christine; his daughter, Jolene and son, Colin, both of Coconut Creek, FL.
Graveside services with full military honors will be held at 1:30pm on Friday, January 23, 2009 at Bay Pines National Cemetery, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd., Bay Pines, FL 33744, (727) 398-9426.
I worked with Joe for too brief a period, and was glad to know him.
The picture is perfect, as he always had a smile on his face!
Semper Fi, Joe.
I knew my friend Joe pretty well. I worked with him for a while out at Sea. I took his last boat ride with him on his boat before it sold. I’m glad I can remember him this way. I will miss everlasting smile and kindness. We will miss you Joe here at Starlite Cruises. Your friend, 1st mate Toni (Dolphin Racer). Heaven will sure enjoy your company up there.
I met Joe about 10 years ago, when he had his painting company. We became good friends and I will always remember the grin on his face when he had gone fishing and presented me with fresh filets. . . such a treat. I will treasure his memory and I know he is looking down on us and flashing that winning smile! I will miss you Joe.
I had the great priveledge of sharing moments in time with and where Joe loved to be…upon pristine waters in motion aboard a vessel…He took great pride in his work and because of his efforts the seaworthiness of the MV Dolphin Racer will never be finer. Joe always had a smile, no matter how dreary a day it could be… I recall one boat excursion whereby we got caught in a horrific squall, the kind of day that you kiss the ground upon return to port.. I remember after that trip soaken wet, chilled, Joe just smiled at me and said ,”another great day on the water!”. He had a way about him that warms the soul. Joe Thank You for warming all our souls.. Mate, Friend You will be remembered .
Iwe myself and Christina was with Joe the day this Picture was taken at Pains Creek In Brewster Ma. In November. I may have been the one to have taken it.. This was one of the last days we had with Joeuncle Joe, we had a great time that day and we will always remember his smile and all the wonderful times we spent together.I know your watching down over all of us and you will be missed dearly. You will always have a special place in all of our hearts and weI am honered to have had you as a member of our Family.May you finally rest in peace my very special friendbrother-law. Carry on in heaven my friend,you are already sadly missed..
Below is something I gave to Joe that he wanted me to pass on to his family and friends……
To my dearest family and friends, some things I’d like to say…
but first of all, to let you know, that I arrived okay.
I’m writing this from heaven. Here I dwell with God above.
Here, there’s no more tears of sadness; here is just eternal love.
Please do not be unhappy just because I’m out of sight.
Remember that I’m with you every morning, noon and night.
That day I had to leave you when my life on earth was through,
God picked me up and hugged me and He said, “I welcome you.”
It’s good to have you back again; you were missed while you were gone.
As for your dearest family, they’ll be here later on.
I need you here badly; you’re part of my plan.
There’s so much that we have to do, to help our mortal man.”
God gave me a list of things, that he wished for me to do.
And foremost on the list, was to watch and care for you.
And when you lie in bed at night, the day’s chores put to flight.
God and I are closest to you….in the middle of the night.
When you think of my life on earth, and all those loving years
because you are only human, they are bound to bring you tears.
But do not be afraid to cry; it does relieve the pain.
Remember there would be no flowers, unless there was some rain.
I wish that I could tell you all that God has planned.
But if I were to tell you, you wouldn’t understand.
But one thing is for certain, though my life on earth is o’er.
I’m closer to you now, than I ever was before.
There are many rocky roads ahead of you and many hills to climb;
but together we can do it by taking one day at a time.
It was always my philosophy and I’d like it for you too…
that as you give unto the world, the world will give to you.
If you can help somebody who’s in sorrow and pain,
then you can say to God at night……”My day was not in vain.”
And now I am contented….that my life has been worthwhile,
knowing as I passed along the way, I made somebody smile.
So if you meet somebody who is sad and feeling low,
just lend a hand to pick him up, as on your way you go.
When you’re walking down the beach, and you’ve got me on your mind;
I’m walking in your footsteps only half a step behind.
And when it’s time for you to go…. from that body to be free,
remember you’re not going…..you’re coming here to me.
©Copyright 1998-2008
Dear Joe
You were and always will be my Mr. Wonderful.I love you and miss you dearly.All my love for always.
Chrissy
Joe, I already miss your beautiful smile. I thank you for being a friend that I could always count on, so I will be here should Chrissy need me for anything. God Bless and help him watch over us. With Love, Angie
I met Joe over 15 years ago at a party my friend was having. From that moment on we barely spent any time apart…and soon our daughter was born. The day she was born Joe had cried so much his eyes were infected but he held her and sang to her as she has since sang to him many times. He sang..”she’s the most beautiful girl, that’s Jolene, my Jolene..” He loved her before he could even hold her in his arms. With effort we bought a home, Joe got his painter’s license and we had a son Colin who Joe couldn’t wait to take fishing. Joe taught all the kids in the neighborhood how to fish. The neighbors called him the “Pied Piper with a Fishing Pole” Many days you could find Joe at the ponds with many children catching something so large they couldn’t bring it home. Alas Joe and I weren’t meant to stay together but one thing I do know is that we were meant to be the parents of Jolene and Colin. I considered Joe a dear friend and someone I wanted to know forever…who knew that forever would be so short a time. When I see the orchids bloom or hear a wind chime, when I see an ocean that is “flat calm” and when I sink myself into the warm waters of the keys with a cold corona topped with a lime I will remember Joe with fondness and love.
Daddy, Daddy is a man I can never replace no matter what. I have and had a relationship with him like no one else. He was a special daddy. I loved him with all my heart and nothing less. I have so many memories of him that I will treasure forever. This isnt the way i thought it was going to end. I pictured you in a swinging chair telling the adventures of your life to your grandchildren my children. But i guess that’s left up to me and all my memories. We all have endured suffering and pain through this obstacle god has put us through. I believe that this was only the beginning of the challenges that have yet to come. I will miss Daddy dearly. His brightening smile that you just couldn’t help but smiling along. His naturally tan olive skin. His graying hair and the forest of hair that lay upon his chest. His laugh and him. The way this thick eye brows acted as caterpillars taking over his eyeballs. I remember when daddy, colin and I were out exploring his new surroundings at the condo. A terrible lightning storm rolled in. It was so bad we had to take cover under a bridge because we couldn’t run across the street home. We sat under there for hours shivering as the rain pelted around us blowing from all different directions. we huddled in a ball like penguins. Then when the storm finally let up we booked it home… laughing the whole way. I could go on and on telling you stories about my dad. He lived a pretty good life I would say. I wish I could’ve just taken him to see one of the great wonders of the world The Great Barrier Reef. I was planning to take him his 60th birthday. i think I will go there anyway because I want to do it to celebrate him. he will be able to see it all through my eyes just as wonderful as ever. Although through this mystery I have learned something very important. Even though I have “lost” a father I haven’t really lost him. I talk to him. His old self healthy and happy. With his big ol beer belly that I miss putting my ear up to and listening to his stomach churn around and all the squeals and gargling noises it conducted. I have learned through this mystery that if you really love someone and they are in great pain its okay to let go. Because they will always be watching over you because they loved you that much to. When I learned of his death I actually smiled because there was no more pain no more needles no more cancer. I pictured that old daddy like I remembered him restored. Later that day we went fishing to celebrate him, and didn’t catch a single thing, our lines got caught up on rocks, birds bombarded out bait before it even smacked the waters surface. But as we drove up to fish the sky was clear like it was flat calm no clouds to disturb it. I looked up and saw him laughing smiling at me. I started crying knowing he was in a magical place where wishes were granted, and he was my secret agent watching over me 258. Knights in amour came no shiner than him. Love forever and always Jolene Anne Cehcario
P.S. my first son born will be named Joseph Warren in honor of Daddy
Daddy, Daddy is a man I can never replace no matter what. I have and had a relationship with him like no one else. He was a special daddy. I loved him with all my heart and nothing less. I have so many memories of him that I will treasure forever. This isnt the way i thought it was going to end. I pictured you in a swinging chair telling the adventures of your life to your grandchildren my children. But i guess that’s left up to me and all my memories. We all have endured suffering and pain through this obstacle god has put us through. I believe that this was only the beginning of the challenges that have yet to come. I will miss Daddy dearly. His brightening smile that you just couldn’t help but smiling along. His naturally tan olive skin. His graying hair and the forest of hair that lay upon his chest. His laugh and him. The way this thick eye brows acted as caterpillars taking over his eyeballs. I remember when daddy, colin and I were out exploring his new surroundings at the condo. A terrible lightning storm rolled in. It was so bad we had to take cover under a bridge because we couldn’t run across the street home. We sat under there for hours shivering as the rain pelted around us blowing from all different directions. we huddled in a ball like penguins. Then when the storm finally let up we booked it home… laughing the whole way. I could go on and on telling you stories about my dad. He lived a pretty good life I would say. I wish I could’ve just taken him to see one of the great wonders of the world The Great Barrier Reef. I was planning to take him his 60th birthday. i think I will go there anyway because I want to do it to celebrate him. he will be able to see it all through my eyes just as wonderful as ever. Although through this mystery I have learned something very important. Even though I have “lost” a father I haven’t really lost him. I talk to him. His old self healthy and happy. With his big ol beer belly that I miss putting my ear up to and listening to his stomach churn around and all the squeals and gargling noises it conducted. I have learned through this mystery that if you really love someone and they are in great pain its okay to let go. Because they will always be watching over you because they loved you that much to. When I learned of his death I actually smiled because there was no more pain no more needles no more cancer. I pictured that old daddy like I remembered him restored. Later that day we went fishing to celebrate him, and didn’t catch a single thing, our lines got caught up on rocks, birds bombarded out bait before it even smacked the waters surface. But as we drove up to fish the sky was clear like it was flat calm no clouds to disturb it. I looked up and saw him laughing smiling at me. I started crying knowing he was in a magical place where wishes were granted, and he was my secret agent watching over me 258. Knights in amour came no shiner than him. Love forever and always Jolene Anne Cehcario
P.S. my first son born will be named Joseph Warren in honor of Daddy
I remember the first time I met Joe, my sister Louise brought him to Pier 66 and introduced him as her boyfriend, not too long after that he became the father to my beautiful niece Jolene. I was present at the birth of his son Colin, and moments after Colin was born, Joe took him in his arms and held him and said, “I’ve waited so long for you!” He loved his kids! Yes he also loved the sea and most weekends would find him on the boat with his kids…fishing…that was heaven on earth for Joe…On the day Joe died his kids and their mother went to Pompano Peir and found Joe’s favorite spot to fish, they took their fishing rods with them, they listened to the surf and they remembered …. Joe thanks for bringing two wonderful children to the world, Your memory and energy will live on in them for a very long time…may you rest peacefully knowing you were loved very much.
Cherrill Yates
My father was a great man he had a whole bunch of things about him that were great. For instance he loved to fish, he loved to laugh, he was always alot of fun, and he always took everyone out fishing. Me i always thought he was like peter piper but with fishing pole and little kids. When i was only about 2 months old i caught my very first fish. when i was about 6 my dad would take me fishing about twice a week. Every time we went we had caught something. Like this onetime when me and my dad (just us) were out on his boat in the inner coastal, we were trolling for hours and hours. finally after about 4 hours of waiting we got a nibble, then a bite ,then before we knew we had a 4 foot great barracuda on our line it took us 45min to reel the bad boy in. I was soo happy when i caught it but when i looked over at my dad he looked even happier than me.We took like a billion pictures of it and he even pulled out a tooth to remember it. That is just one of my favorite memories of my dad and me.
Rest in Peace Joe. You did the honorable things in life and life did not return to you the things you deserved. The pain in you life is gone now. See you later….
I met Joe as another brother-in-law. He stood as a pall bearer for my dad and was; to me,the father of my niece and nephew.
The more time I spent with him I realized the man that he truly was. He had a passion and zest for living life as we all should. A smile for all and a willingness to hug, embrace, laugh and cry. He taught me to be able to sit on the porch with a coffee and actually hear the songs the birds would sing rather than the twitter I heard. To listen to the breeze winding through the leaves vs. the blowing and creaking of the limbs.
I cherish the day he was able to come out on Lake Erie with “The Boys” aboard Richards boat. It was fairly choppy and Richard; as a fairly inexperienced new owner of the vessel, was giving us a ride that was jarring our teeth loose. Finally; and with thanks, the helm was offered to Joe and we were under way again, but this time it was different, it didn’t seen half bad. Joe had brought the boat up on plane and found that sweet spot that tied the boats fight against the waves to the cyclic rythme of the lake.
But what did I learn from Joe yet again…..
“It’s a more enjoyable ride if you can just get into the rythme.”
Thanks Joe
I will always consider you as my brother.
Colin
Every day I look up and see you smiling (that GREAT smile). Every day I hear you telling me dont be sad mom, I am pain free and at peace now. From day one when I met you, that mom to son bond took hold and it will be with me for all my days to come. I love you, I miss you fiercely and watch over that piecce of my heart you took with you. Love forever, “mom”
I knew Joe 5 years. He was my neighbor here at the Casa La Quinta condominium community.
He was a great friend and excellent father. We spent many good times having barbecues with his kids down at the pool. We all pulled together during the hurricane crisis. He loved his fishing and was a great painter. He did some painting for me at my condo. He was gentle, caring and a very good hearted giving person.He moved away to the St Pete area and he was missed. I will always remember the good memories that we had. May he rest in peace.
I think of you every day…and miss you…everyday
It’s been awhile, and seeing all of these wonderful posts about you is bringing back so many memories that I had forgotten. You had such a pure passion for nature and it was your way of stopping and enjoying every single little thing and soaking up all the flavors of life. I can only leave it up to my imagination about how my life would be with you now. But what I do imagine is: father daughter dances and country music jam sessions, long days of fishing followed by a fresh fish dinner. We would have the best possible relationship that a father and daughter would have. I would truly understand your value and we would never fight. I would see your big ol smile and get the best hug I’ve ever received. I miss you so much but I know you’re here. It’s just not the same as it could have been. I hope you’re proud of me and the life that I lead. I hope you can understand my mind and my heart. I love you, forever and always.