Willie Murphy painting - Navajo artist - person worthy of Joe’s admiration..Joe considered him the Navajo Norman Rockwell

Joe,

With some surprise this summer, we realized you’ve been gone longer than we thought. We miss you so much. Our summers in Massachusetts are not the same without you. 

Bertucci’s, our Amherst meeting spot is gone…our fleeting “Days of Hyacinth “ are gone. Our chats about Native American life are merely a memory. 

We still live on the Navajo Nation in the apartment that reminded you of your college days when you visited a few years back…you, in your rented white Mustang convertible, riding off in the sunset to Grants where we would meet for supper in one of the only places around - Navajo tacos was our fare for that night…giant fry bread so light it seemed like air filled with wondrous mixture of meat and veggies…you enjoyed that…and wanted to spend the night in a real hogan. We could not arrange that wish because my Navajo aide (though she lived in a house) was afraid you’d be uncomfortable sleeping in her hogan, on her dirt floor, drinking camp coffee and eating blue corn meal mush for breakfast.  We could not convince her that was the experience you wanted. Now, that experience is tourist fare in some places.

We loved our visit to Chaco Canyon with you. You found one exquisite small pottery shard and I think you did keep it as a memory of that once in a lifetime trip…you hated your much anticipated visit to Gallup…so commercial…you wanted to buy a “”Willie Murphy” painting- he struck you as the Norman Rockwell of the Navajo Nation. I don’t think his talent ever reached your wall and we could not arrange an “in person” introduction…sadly.

Joe, we miss you…we love you madly…auctions are not the same without you…Massachusetts is not the same without you.

We miss your laugh, your knowledge of all things old and new, we just miss you! You left a void in our lives that cannot be filled.❤️💔❤️

Phil is still teaching at Navajo Technical University, beginning a new school year as of this writing. I am long retired.

We love you madly...and we will pray for you...

You were a wildly handsome young guy...showing nothing but strong Italian heritage...somehow I thought you were as old or older than this couple you befriended at weekly auctions we attended in Massachusetts over the course of our adult lives.

We were instant friends, the three of us, visiting over lunch or over Indian artifacts. You were such a wealth of knowledge. We were the friends living and working on the Navajo Nation. You dipped into our lives and we dipped into yours. You came to see us for a few days one brief hot summer. We visited your dream...Chaco Canyon...like unbridled children with inquisitive minds, we were so excited to explore every inch of that magnificent place that sadly, we forgot to take pictures.

Your time was fleeting but you made a promise to return to the Southwest for an extended vacation soon. Canyon de Chelly and Mesa Verde were on your list of “must sees”. We made a list for you and here it sets even after all this time.

The best laid plans of mice and men...we were all anxiously making those vacation plans when you called to tell us some news that would cancel everything. We were heartbroken.

Over the next few years, you had your ups and downs...we had our brief visits, you gave me a massive silver cross to wear. I was to find out where it came from. I suspected you knew but this was my assignment to take my mind away from the terminal diagnosis you had been given. I searched for the origin of the mysterious cross but success was not mine.

We called each other often, disagreeing on everything from religion to politics...our verbal never ending debate...you, ending with “I love you madly.” Me, ending with, “I’ll pray for you.”

It was a Covid summer. Our summer visits didn’t happen...I think you erred on the side of caution. We wanted that last good bye...it was not ours to have...we miss you Joe, and we love you madly.  PRAYERS ABSOLUTELY AND ALWAYS.

My  childhood friend and all through college. Loved you so.

Joe lived across the hall from my family in a third floor walk-up apartment in Amherst for many years. His laugh was undeniably contagious and definitely unique.  He was so knowledgeable about antiques and had so many wonderful stories about his treasures; it was always a treat to listen to these snippets of someone’s history.

Joe always had kind words about people in his life.  When we moved away from that apartment, my young family kept us busy and we lost touch with Joe except to run into him occasionally.  When Joe moved out of town I didn’t see him until a year ago and was so happy to hear his laugh and look into his big eyes and so sad to learn of his illness.  

Joe, you ARE remembered. You were weaved into the fabric of our lives and we are grateful that we knew you.  Love from all the Stanton family.

OBITUARY

Joseph A. Savarese

June 12, 1957 – August 18, 2020

DiLuzio Foley And Fletcher Funeral Homes

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