Asbury Park Activist Remembered
Memorial for Joe DAndrea planned for May 20
Joe DAndrea
By ELLEN CARROLL
Joe DAndrea, who came to Asbury Park six years ago and immersed himself in the life of the city, setting up a business, getting involved with the Center and helping to start a political action group, died Sunday. He was 52.
Although he had been treated for some medical problems recently, including blocked arteries, he told friends last week he was feeling much better and on Sunday went on the annual Asbury Park House Tour.
The untimely death came as a shock to friends and residents.
Im still in shock, said City Councilman Ed Johnson. Its really a great loss. He had such an impact on things we do here in Asbury Park. Sometimes you have people who do nothing but tear things down. But you can point to things Joe helped build. He was all about building a better Asbury Park. Sometimes he would give you criticism that you necessarily didnt want to hear, but you knew it was constructive. He was always, how can we do this better.
Deputy Mayor Jim Bruno also remembered him as a straight shooter.
He really loved Asbury Park, Bruno said. Its a big loss for the city and an even bigger loss for the gay community.
Councilman John Loffredo also described DAndrea as straight forward and honest.
We had our differences, he said. He told it like it was and he would always find out the facts. I considered him a friend and I am going to miss him greatly. My heart goes out to Will [Elliott, DAndreas partner], and the rest of his family.
DAndrea was taken to Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune Sunday evening after having chest pains. A memorial service is scheduled for 2 p.m. May 20 at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asbury Park.
DAndrea maintained the citys website, co-owned West 21 Systems technology and also operated gayasburypark.com. Most recently he was helping to make a gay and lesbian community center a reality in the city.
Kathy Ragauckas, a city resident who served with DAndrea on the Board of Trustees of the Center, which offers services to those with AIDS, characterized him as a walking encyclopedia.
We worked closely on a couple of projects and I really got to know Joe, Ragauckas said. Anything you wanted to know, he would find out. He would say good bye and within the next two hours he would have an answer for you. He knew so much and got involved in so much. He never blew his own horn. He really just went and did. He never talked about his own accomplishments and that was one of his endearing qualities.
As co-owner of Wish You Were Here, a boutique on Cookman Avenue, Ragauckas said she has been listening to customers stopping in to say they felt they knew DAndrea through his postings on the internet.
The emotion attached to Joes passing is like nothing I have seen in a long time, she said. Thats how far-reaching his impact was.
David DeBoer, another city business owner, said DAndrea was the first person he met when he came to the city.
He took me around town, gave me the tour and introduced me to creative people in town, DeBoer said. He was the epitome of Asbury Park, a visionary. A lot of people connected to the internet in Asbury Park owe a great deal to Joe. He has the cell tower on top of the gas building. He connected people in Asbury Park- literally and figuratively.
Tom Gilmour, the citys director of commerce who worked with DAndrea on the city website, called him the citys silent ambassador who truly made a difference.
He never did anything half way, Gilmour said. What impressed me the most about Joe was his creativity: DAndrea style. Im not sure where it came from but Joe had a keen sense of marketing and promotion.
Fate brought us together one last time on Sunday afternoon in Press Plaza. Monday morning when I came into my office, there was a voice mail from Joe giving me directions for the day. I missed him Sunday night, I missed him Monday and I miss him now.
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