I don't know where to start. My heart is filled with such sadness for the loss of "Uncle Joe" (he will always be "Uncle Joe or Mr. West" to me). It's like a part of my life is gone with him. I have very few childhood memories that don't include "Aunt Joyce and Uncle Joe," Colleen, Joey, Sam (the dog), and the West household. Our homes were practically interchangeable! We were constantly back and forth for meals, hanging out, walking to Nichols corner store or Dairy Queen, swimming in our pool, hockey games at the Fieldhouse, sleepovers or "camping" in the back yard, and Friday night horror movies while the adults played cards. Uncle Joe was the first person to take me fishing. We all went out to Burden Lake. I caught a Sunny, which was promptly buried in the back yard of 3 Putnam St. There were summer weekends at the "camp" on the lake, and Uncle Joe was the chaperone for Colleen and I at our very first concert ever...."Boston," at the RPI Fieldhouse. How many people get to have the safety and security of a high ranking officer of the Troy Police Force for a chaperone? Too many memories to recount...all of which will be forever cherished. My deepest heartfelt sympathies go out to all of you.