Joseph Charles Tichy III

Joe (to his friends) or Jacey (to family) was born in Atlanta and raised in the Colesville community of Silver Spring, Maryland. As a kid he loved roaming the fields and forests around the family home, identifying birds, and competing in horse shows. He was a kind and fun older brother to his sister, Susan Elizabeth, who survives him.

At the College of William and Mary, in Williamsburg, Virginia, Joe earned a B.S. in Biology before moving on to the University of Georgia, Athens, where he pursued a Ph.D. in Invertebrate Neurophysiology. A few years later, despite having taught many hundreds of blue crabs to navigate a maze, Joe left the university with ABD status ( “all but dissertation”) to begin a career at the Northeast Georgia Regional Development Center. More than thirty years later he retired from the RDC as Senior Planner, where (among other things) he brought his scientific training to bear on water issues.

At William and Mary, Joe also discovered soccer. In Athens, he played and coached, got interested in refereeing, and developed a lifelong passion for mentoring young referees. Always an avid learner, he brought insights to the game gleaned from his reading on perception, logic, decision-making, and psychology. He took special pride in encouraging the participation of girls and their advancement through the refereeing ranks. After serving many years on the state refereeing committee and as state director for refereeing, he stepped back from admin but remained a fixture of Athens soccer, turning out to watch games, tell stories, and encourage both players and refs.

Away from the soccer pitch, Joe was a skilled photographer who loved western landscapes and winter beaches. In later years his favorite perch was his own front porch, surrounded by woodlands and birdsong.

Joe Tichy was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Charles Tichy Jr. and Margaret Elizabeth Bubb Tichy, and his brother-in-law, Lewis Michael O’Hanlon. A celebration of his life was held on June 29 at The Globe, in Athens.