Remembering Joe Ferrante
One of the great gifts of being part of TOH is getting to know everyone involved with our project. Tommy, his sub-contractors, and the rest of the TOH team make up a close-knit family, some of whom have worked together for well over 20 years.
On Friday, November 9th, this family lost a brother in Joe Ferrante, their lead tile contractor. At our home at the end of the day, Joe suffered a heart attack and passed away on his way to the hospital.
I first met Joe on a warm, sunny day, upstairs in our son's front bedroom. I introduced myself and asked a few questions about the work we were going to do in the front bathroom. About an hour later I had learned much about his craft, many interesting experiences, how he got into the business through his father and about working with his brother Mark.
Joe also talked a lot about a recent fishing exploit. In fact, he talked mostly about that! He had a way of captivating you in his experience and leaving you asking for more. Over the months that I got to know him, he was always cheerful, and took time out to say hello and go over what he was doing. And invevitably, tell a story.
But behind the stories was a dedicated, consumate professional, committed to getting things done right. Maddy and our designer, Abbey Koplovitz, spent countless hours going over the details with Joe over the past several months. When the tiles for our three bathrooms and our kitchen finally arrived, there was even more work on the fine points. Joe had a way of listening to our vision and giving us great, practical advice.
Of course, everything changed on that fateful, Friday afternoon. And, since Joe worked with Tommy and others going back as far as 1983, I know his loss runs deep. It was not easy for anyone to come back to work the next week, and in particular to film scenes for the next show. But, in tribute to Joe, they are forging ahead, something that I hope all viewers greatly respect.
That week Joe and I were talking about some of the finer details for the shower in the master bathroom. There were different ways of finishing the tile that we were exploring. "Don't worry," Joe said, "it will be beautiful."
Posted by Paul Friedberg | Categories: Newton 2007 | Permalink
(274) Comments
Very sad. My sympathy to his family & friends.
He was one of the best. We will all miss him greatly. Thank you Joe!
My deepest sympathys go to both his familys, TOH family and his personal family... He was a total professional and an inspiration to all of us "amatuers." I just completed my tile job on my house and said to the wife,"You think Big Joe would have liked my job."
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My sympathies to all.
I guess it's just another sign of how much TOH means to us viewers...I feel a real sadness to hear Joe has died. It must have been a shock to everyone at the house, and I hope there will be lots of great stories told, to help people cope with his loss. I hope his family knows that strangers all over the country will be mourning, too.
I am so sorry to hear of Joe's passing.
Joe Ferrante was a craftsman in the purest sense of the word. His encyclopedic knowlege of tile and his passion for the craft combined with his engaging personality to set a standard of professionalism for all contractors to aspire to.
Thanks Joe, for everything.
I am so sorry to hear about Joe's passing. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and all his friends. Though I did not know him personally I felt I knew him. I feel like I have lost a friend today. He was one of my teacher's on This Old House. I learned a lot from him. Thank you for what you taught me, Joe.
I am truly sorry to learn of Joe's passing. As a regular viewer of TOH & a tradesman myself I know how friendships & bonds develop from working side by side with good people in the business. Viewers of TOH will miss Joe's professionalism & attention to detail he demonstrated on the many project houses in the past.
Please accept our deepest sympathy for your loss.
Such sad news, what a great guy taken too soon, we will miss seeing you on TOH in the UK. You all at TOH all come into our homes each week to help us and are like friends visiting, theres one missing now though. Thanks for all the advice in the past Joe.
I'm so shocked and sad to hear about Joe. I learned a gread deal from him over the years. He will be greatly missed. My sincerest sympathy goes out to his friends, colleagues and family.
I never met Joe but I feel I knew him, he was a master craftsman and will be missed. My sympathy to his family and friends.
I have had the great pleasure of working with the
Ferrante family for over thirty years starting with Joe,Mark, and Chuck's Dad Carmine and then with the sons as they took over the business. Many truly amazing projects were made most beautiful thanks to their great expertise, talent, and knowledge. Their capabilities range far beyond the seeming simplicity of placing tile. Losing Joe is to me devastating as he was so close a friend, and such a valued asset to my projects. Truly a loss.
David O'Shaughnessy
I have had the great pleasure of working with the
Ferrante family for over thirty years starting with Joe,Mark, and Chuck's Dad Carmine and then with the sons as they took over the business. Many truly amazing projects were made most beautiful thanks to their great expertise, talent, and knowledge. Their capabilities range far beyond the seeming simplicity of placing tile. Losing Joe is to me devastating as he was so close a friend, and such a valued asset to my projects. Truly a loss.
David O'Shaughnessy
My deepest sympathys go out to the family and friends of Joe. He will be sorely missed. I have learned much from him over the years, and the knowledge and wisdom he gave me and others is never going to be equaled. God bless you, Joe.
All your kind words about Joe have not gone unnoticed, they have brought a lot of comfort and have helped lift the spirit of his family more than you could ever imagine. I know Thanksgiving day they all sat and read each and every entry on this site and they have been just blown away by the outpouring of love many seem to have had for a guy that was just another worker doing what he had to do to support his beautiful family. Its just amazing .
Thank you so much.
Like all who have posted I was shocked when I heard the news of Joe's passing. It was obvious that Joe was a Pro and a nice guy who loved his work. His family and co-workers have been in our thoughts and prayers since we learned of his passing. I am sure he will be missed by a great many people. Please count us among them.
I have remembered Joe throughout recent TOH episodes. I have to tell you I am not normally a sentimental guy - but the news of Joe's passing has hit us all quite hard. If by chance a member of Joe's family is reading this, please know that he touched more lives than you know and that he will be remembered by all of us as an inspiration.
Thank you Joe.
I feel like I've lost a dear friend. I've never met any of the TOH guys but I feel like I know them all - Joe was one of my favorites and I always enjoyed hearing him talk about tile on the show. You could tell he was passionate about it. He was a true craftsman and he will be missed. My sympathies to his family and to his friends at TOH.
I am very sorry to hear about Joe's passing. He seemed like a nice guy and one that was very proud of both his family and craft. His segments were very informative. Anything I know about tiling came from Joe.
It has been a while since I checked this blog and was very saddened to hear of Joes loss. Our family has been watching This Old House since the show began so we think of Joe as an extension of our family and want to wish his family our deepest sympathy. I know he is with the saints now in heaven. May God Bless him and his family.
It has been a while since I checked this blog and was very saddened to hear of Joes loss. Our family has been watching This Old House since the show began so we think of Joe as an extension of our family and want to wish his family our deepest sympathy. I know he is with the saints now in heaven. May God Bless him and his family.
TOH has a way of finding very personable, professional people to work on their projects, and, to then make them our friends.
I'm very sorry for the loss felt by Joe's family, co-workers and TOH staff.
You've lived a good life if people hurt when you leave. God Bless Joe and all those who will miss him.
I am very sorry to hear of Joe's passing. I am a long-time viewer of "This Old House" and always enjoyed Joe's segments. I have layed tile in my own home due to Joe's instruction, and value what he brought to the series. He was a true master craftsman and will be missed. He was much too young to leave this earth. He will be missed by the viewers of "This Old House" as he will be by the people he worked with. My regards to his family.
I just read of Joe's passing. What a loss. As has been stated by so many, Joe brought a professionalism mixed with a true passion for his work. Our prayers and thoughts go to all of you who worked with Joe. It is amazing what an impact a good man like Joe has on others. Peace and Blessings.
Grace & Jerry Tambeau
I just read about Joe's passing today when I received my TOH magazine. I have seen every episode of TOH since it started and since I am in the "business" I got a kick out of all the personalities that came out of the sub-contractors on the show. Especially the Italian guys like Joe who knew how to work and get the job done. I have met all the main peole at TOH at various conventions and trade shows but never had the pleasure of meeting Joe but in a way I knew him because he was a regular guy doing his job, fishing and going home to his family. Now he is home with God. God bless his wife and family at this trying time. I bet he is laying tile in heaven.