Joseph Domenici

Joseph (Joe) Domenici, age 49 of Austin, TX, died August 31, 2010. Joe was born in Albuquerque, NM on May 25, 1961. He was the youngest child of Melba June and Anthony Domenici, Jr. Joe is predeceased by his parents and brother, Daniel. Joe is survived by William, brother, Cynthia, sister as well as numerous relatives and friends. He started his life on Georgia St. in NE Albuquerque with a block full of children and a network of neighbors who were all part of the street "family". When Joe was nine years old his family moved to El Paso and then to Houston in 1972. This was just the beginning of Joe's travels and places he would call home.

Joe had a thirst for adventure, an active imagination and loved to interact with people. He found something interesting and unforgettable in everyone. Joe took the time to get to know the people he met and forged many strong friendships in his short life. He often sent books, music, cartoons, tapes or other items to family, friends and coworkers because that was just how he was and how he kept people close to his heart. He took great pleasure in remembering others and surprising them with gifts and other gestures of friendship and love. We will all miss those packages and surprises that would pop into our e-mail box or land on our front stoop.

Joe started reading and collecting comic books at a young age. He was strongly influenced to pick up any book by his older brother, Danny. Joe loved books and at any given time would have eight or ten of them bookmarked and in various stages of completion. He preferred fiction but would pick up anything that caught his eye. In 1988 he was the proud co-owner and manager of a science fiction and fantasy book store, Future Visions Books, in Houston. Imagine, going to work everyday surrounded by everything that fascinates you and meeting and talking to people who had the same interests as you.

His collectibles expanded from books to music, movies and film paraphernalia. If he had a book, movie poster or picture of someone and they were within 100 miles of Joe he would camp out to be where he had to be to get an autograph. He attended many trade shows and book conventions all over the country and had a network of friends he looked forward to seeing year after year. Along the way, Joe developed a passion for guns and a fascination with all history related to war and battle strategies. He had a great respect for all Veterans and spent many evenings talking to his father about WW II.

Joe started writing in high school. He continuously jotted down random thoughts and wrote screen plays, short stories and eventually two fiction novels. His first novel, Bringing Back the Dead, was published in September 2008. His first book signing was held in Houston the week after hurricane IKE hit. Even a hurricane would not interfere with this momentous occasion! Autographs were signed by electric generator and flashlight that day. His second novel, The Death Factory, will be out in the summer of 2011.

In July 2010 Joe's webpage debued. www.texaswriterjoe.com Joe, in true form, sent out e-mails announcing his webpage and in his message he rewrote a Steve Martin line in The Jerk, "I'm somebody, I have a webpage!"

A celebration of Joe's life will be held at his sister's town house in Houston, TX on October 2, 2010. Memorial gifts may be donated to stdavidsfoundation.org