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| Maypole Joe |
| Joe you will live in our hearts forever. May you throughly enjoy your trip to the Summerlands. May the God and Goddess guide you back to us in many ways. |
| This page is a continual memorial page to Joe Propper a.k.a. Maypole Joe. Joe was wonderful and caring in so many ways it is uncountable. He touched the lives of so many in our community. Joe was a great asset to the pagan community for many years. If you would like to leave your own special message about Joe, please email me at NancyVenus@aol.com , and I will post your message on this page. Let us know how Joe touched your life in his own special way. . This page which will stand as a constant reminder of his love, caring and friendship to our community. |
| Joe, the Bel fire in our hearts will never go out for thee. Nancy Venus |
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| 1953-2002 |
| Joe Propper a.k.a. Maypole Joe was the High Priest of Aradia's Children. Every Beltane Joe would put up the Maypoles and attach the ribbons. No one did it better than Joe. |
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| Joe's memorial page has been visited |
I remember some years ago, when I was making my first forays into the public Pagan community. I was at my first Aradia's Children Beltaine celebration, and I was a total neophyte in many ways. Although I was totally comfortable with myself and my beliefs and interests, and I could share that with close friends Wiccan, Pagan, and otherwise... the magickal part of myself had never really been expressed in a public place, full of strangers. My best friend, who had been to many of your Beltaine celebrations before, urged me to bring a ribbon for the maypole dance. As I imagine many are their first time, I was totally nervous, worrying about not knowing what to do, looking silly, and so on. I was directed to bring my ribbon to Joe, who was setting up the poles. I will never forget the aura of love and fun that surrounded this man, someone I had never met but who immediately welcomed me, put me much more at ease, and offered a few "tips" for the Maypole dance. His openness, friendliness, and just plain joy at his part in putting together the fun event that was going to happen. He singlehandedly made me feel so much more comfortable there, and soon had me laughing right along with him. Later, I reunited with my friend, and started describing this extroardinary man whom I had met. She immediately smiled, and said "Oh, you've met Maypole Joe." And later, during the dance, the joy this man was filled with was irresistable. I guess I don't need to tell you how amazingly the event went, or the profound impression he left upon me, this stranger who took a bit of time from his task to set me at ease. He was a total stranger, and I only spent that fleeting moment with him, but I'll always remember Maypole Joe. Rob T. Firefly |
| I remember the first time I met Joe along with April, it was at a CUPPS meeting. I was so young and filled to the brim with wonderful information from Starhawk's transformative book, The Spiral Dance. I remember percieving their reaction to me as just as excited because I was so interested in Wicca and was invited to a dinner at Jackie's house. I remember the dinner, the warmth, love and acceptance I felt instantly surrounded by. I particularly remember my mother's reaction when I came home covered in magic marker stamps because lianna (then 3?) and I had so much fun covering each other in stamps. I remember that Joe was lianna's dad even if he did not share her DNA and loved her like he did. I remember having long conversations with Joe about the God's, Goddesses and their meaning in our lives. I remember the day I met Fido, the ghost dog and he was so thrilled that we had to run and tell April instantly. I learned so much from him in that year and felt so much love while receiving that knowledge. Joe was much like a second father to me. He gave unconditionally, love and warmth and I am so lucky to have recieved that. He had a contagious laugh, and spirit and when I think of him it's always with head back and mouth open in a great laugh. I feel unspeakably blessed to have been able to know him and be cared for by him. I feel just as blessed to have been part of such a loving community of human beings and I will never ever forget the love I received,and will try to give one tenth of the love I received to others. Samantha |
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