Joe was a loving and giving young man who was full of both these attributes.  At the time of his death, his mind was not "clear", therfore  he went down a path that took his life.  But none of that can tale away the true nature of the young man he actual was .  So I will always keep the great memories and pictures I have saved of the young man he truly was - loving considerate and shareing with all those who were in his life.  The sorrow of his death will never dull those memories.  I sent blessings to his Nancy and Jake. 
Sabra Cooper

Thinking of you today, Joe.  You are always in our thoughts and so is your wonderful family. Love you  and miss you so very much. Until we meet again ❤️

Jason, Michelle, Abby, Christina and Emily 

John, just want you to know that we're thinking about Joe and your family. What a blast it was coaching Pony League with you and having Joe unable to throw after his surgery but we couldn't afford to have him sit because he was our best hitter so we put him at first base. I still remember the other team hitting a ground ball and after the throw over to Joe of course the runner at 3rd took off for home and after Joe went through the thought process of not being able to throw him out he just rolled the ball home like a bowler and looked around with this big grin on his face. Always having fun with the game he loved!
Jim and Alex Lindsay

I do not know if these are shared with Joe's Mom, Nancy.  If so I would like her to know that Joe will be remembered by  my family and me ALWAYS.  Joe was that kind of special that is rarely seen in young people today. I think of his family often. Sabra Cooper

Joey sidearm we called him when John and I coached he a great group of his friends in Pony league. That was when he had the torn labrum but still wanted to play! So he couldn't throw overhand! We'll he was such a good hitter we had to find a place for him so 1st base it was. Now you would think that would be that but at least once or twice a game there would be a baserunner trying to go to second or home and ole sidearm Joe would wind up and that ball would be rolling lickity split bouncing along the ground racing the runner to see who would get there first all the while Joe would have this big grin on his face in anticipation. We also played against his team in the City championship in little league where he held us scoreless for 6 innings. More than anything my son Alex and I got to know a very special person full of happiness, a great sense of humor and he was part of a great family-Love you John my brother. So sorry i was out of town and missed his celebration of life God Bless you and your family-Jim

We are deeply saddened at the Loss of your Loved one,  I remember both of you bringing in the kids for Pizza, they seemed happy and healthy under both your Parenting, you kept them busy and you gave them your best Efforts!, there is not a whole lot we can do when they become adults, only to try and be as Selfless and Loving as possible, knowing  full well, we will fall short at times!  Have no Regrets, move forward knowing  he is at Peace.................RIP Joe...

Our deepest  Condolences

                                                                                          Joseph F Vitale & Family
                                                                          ________Owner Papa Toni's Pizza

My Dear Joe!   

This is G'Ma Mauldin.  For 23 years you have been a part of my life.  At birth I held  you in my arms.  You were fair haired, had  bright  eyes and were quiet most of the time.  I had traveled from Columbus, GA to Encinitas to be there for your arrival.  Even had to pick your Dad up at the baseball field when your Mom was in labor.  

Visits were important to share time with family.  Your G'Pa Allen was an Army officer and his assignments took us many places.  We never lived close too your home.   You visited us in:
         Columbus, Georgia
         Olympia, Washington
          Jacksonville, Alabama
          Longboat Key, Florida 
And, we were on an Alaskan cruise

Fun Things happened:
          High School Graduation
          Sports
          College
          Golf
           Fishing

Joe, you were:
         Happy
          Smart
          Sensitive
          Athletic
         Great Cook
And your smile and dimples unbelievable

I'll treasure your visit on Longboat Key June 2-3 this year.  The fish you caught and the hugs and talks we shared.  My last remembrance is your driving away in a rental KIA taking your Mom and brother Jake to the Orlando airport.  You did good!!!!!

I love you Joe and I miss you but now you are at peace.  God Bless you.
                                                      G'Ma
     







Joe  was a brother to me, someone I truly loved and admired for his bravery and fearlessness. He taught me lessons that I still haven’t come to fully understand but I’m beyond grateful to have shared this life with. It’s so hard to concept that you are not in physical form anymore but your soul will shine bright for eternity. I love you Joe <33


Joe was one of my closest friends growing up. Ever since elementary school we were pulling pranks together. A lot of people know joe as the funny guy or the one willing to take it to the next level. But he was so much more than that. Joe was special in a way that he seemed to excel at just about anything he took on. He was a young man with many passions and hobbies. I remember when we were young I used to to idolize the fact that Joe was involved in so many sports and physically demanding hobbies.. I remember seeing a framed photo of him dropping in on a massive half pipe at a young age and being jealous at the way Joe could be so good at something that he didn’t even practice full time. But I was missing something. It wasn’t just his skill level that made him good at these things. It was his persona. Joe was FEARLESS.  He was tough, determined, and willing to bleed if it meant that he come could make it to the end zone for his team. He loved everyone and was a true team player.

Once in Alaska on a trip staying with nancys friend beth at her bed a breakfast and the fishing had not been so good but joe was determanded to catch one before we left.  So he woke early that morning and i drove him down to the fishing hole. we only had a couple hours before we had to leave. Nancy jake and i were getting ready takeing sheets off the beds cleaning the kitchen and sure enough joe caught two.   He was so happy about the catch he wanted to cook one.  After the kitchen was clean so he did and set off the smoke detecters and smell up the place and meanwhile we needed to leave. It was hard to say no because of his catch. We did make it ouy of there in one piece!   Fun Times!

I met Joe when he was just a baby, such a cute little guy! He grew into a handsome young man. He will be missed, but he will always be in our hearts! My condolences to the Gervasi family and Mauldin family!            All My Love, Tammy                                                                                              

Even though I did not come to know all the Gervasi family until Joe was young, I do have a lot of memories that I was privileged to share with all of them.  Joe was like another star in the massive sky - no one could dim the light in the brightness that shown in Joe's joyful and giving nature.  I quickly learned he loved to joke with you and took as good as he gave.  If I was a bit better with computer know-how, I would share with you the picture of both Joe and Jake when they first visited me in Kennesaw, GA.  I took them to the Railroad Museum here to see the great locomotive, the General.  They dressed up in the regulation clothing and got to climb onto the train in the conductors seat.  Joe was driving that train with all the bells and whistles on it.  Joe may be gone from our presence here, but I know he is with God and his angels up there sharing all his love with them and watching over us down here.   Sabra Cooper

Goodbye sweet Joe, so full of life & love.  We will miss your sweet soul.  Grace to your mother and brother as they mourn your passing. Love your cousin Ginny

Joe and I have known each other for a long time, growing up in Encinitas and attending the same schools. He told me he looked up to me in high school and thought I was the “cool pretty girl in the grade above him” haha. We spent some time away doing our own thing for a while, and we reconnected this year on his birthday when I met him for dinner at sushi kuchi in carlsbad. At that time, I was feeling in a lonely place, in need of a close friend, and he was feeling the same. We quickly became each other’s best friend and grew an inseparable connection. I knew he had just got out of rehab,  and had been struggling with addiction for some time, so I did my best to encourage him to make better choices and be the best version of himself around me. When I was with him, he made me feel so comfortable, and loved, and happy. I would get “butterflies” 🦋 every time before seeing him, and I would feel those butterflies every time he kissed me. He was the only person I wanted to hangout with the past months. Despite the everlasting chaos in my life, everything seemed okay when I was with him, like none of it mattered anymore. His positive, radiating energy and perfect smile brought me to this euphoric state, I lived so present in the moment with him, it was awesome. He was my escape, my protector, and my happy place. We would eat candy 🍭 together, watch videos on his computer, make popcorn 🍿, talking laughing and hanging out all night long. Nancy would come in and wake us up by reminding him of the ongoing list of responsibilities he had to do that day. He really enjoyed making smoothies, and we liked trying green juices together from around town. He loved doing karaoke at Jimmy’os, and sliding down the lane of the bowling ally! So many good times with this babe
I am blessed to have shared this life with Joe, I feel special that he loved and cared and treated me the way he did. He was such a good person, I know he will be with me for a long time, and I will miss him every day. 

With the transience of life comes the RIPPLING effect, as the skipping of a stone across a pond, of passing on one’s life experience; some trait; some piece of wisdom, guidance, virtue, comfort that passes on to others, known or unknown. I trust Joe, that your family thanks you and will cherish you as the rippling continues ad infinitum. And especially the love for your mother Nancy. Our deepest heartfelt condolences.  DrD, Larry and family.

Dear Nancy and family,
We were  so saddened to hear of Joe's passing. We know the struggles you and he have been through.  He is at last at Peace and his life struggles have been forgiven and forgotten as he enters a new Life with the Lord. 
With deepest sympathy and love,
Chris and Dave Tostenson

OBITUARY

Joe Gervasi

April 17, 1996 – June 6, 2019

El Camino Memorial - Encinitas

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