July 7, 1955 – April 4, 2021
Tribute to Joe Louis Wildman
Everywhere (Virtual)
The plan is to provide a self-guided, interactive Tribute to Joe Louis Wildman. This allows many people who want to contribute something to do so. You can look through it all at once or take it at your own pace. If you have photos, poems, stories or a link to a short video, please send them to celebrate@joelouiswildman.com and I will post them on a blog. Or you can add them directly in the comments on the Share Your Memories page. Submissions will be moderated so please be patient. Thank you for understanding.
Please accept our apologies. After two months of discussion and planning, it became apparent that pandemic concerns are not behind us. Planning an in-person event was a bigger challenge than any of us are prepared to do. We encourage you to gather in small groups, as you are able, to reminisce our friend. If in the near future you are inclined to plan a larger event, please do, and let us know so we can post it on this website.
ZOOM Virtual Reception
It is clear from responses, there are many who want to attend an event of some kind to honor our friend. I will host a Zoom Virtual Reception, probably some time in August 2021, to connect and learn more about Joe’s circles of friends. TO BE ANNOUNCED.
Why We Are Here
Welcome to the Joe Louis Wildman website. Whether you knew Joh Hoffman from his early years in protests, filmmaking and comedy, or you knew Joe Louis Wildman, the legendary political activist and union organizer, we hope you are here because you want to remember Joh/Joe with us.
Who We Are
We are a small collective of Joe’s friends and family. Here we share some stories and images. We hope to provide a place to remember, laugh and cry while we tell Joe stories, sit with Joe and each other, and walk Joe home.
Why Return to this Website
• Visit as we grow
• Share stories and photos (we are learning the best way to do that)
• Find out about other events and activities in memory of Joe
• Find out more about the interactive, self-guided Tribute to Joe Louis Wildman
How to Be Involved
Contact Jan Carpenter Tucker via celebrate@joelouiswildman.com
Send Jan your poems, stories or links to videos and I will post them on the Share Your Memories blog.
One of Joe’s Recent Poems
I am walking backward in time
and slimming down,
now wearing clothes
that haven’t fit in years.
They are no more out of style now
than they ever were.
I am walking backward in time
getting stronger with each step and
closer to where we last diverged.
I hope you’ll join me now and
walk me closer to when we met.
To when I first walked you home.
I am walking backward in time,
but you cannot walk me
back into the womb.
You can, I hope, walk with me,
back until I am no more.
It is, I hope, your turn to walk
with me the rest of the way.
To walk me, slowly,
all the way home.
Thanks to John Payne (first met Joe in ’86) who says, “I’ve read a fair amount of his (recent) poetry and offer that this structure seems closer to much of what I’ve read of his.”