Joe D. Alford Ph.D.

I was lucky to meet Joe in college. Tall, lanky and a soft-spoken gentleman, Joe taught me and some fellow Yankees about Texas culture. Joe made the best chili I can remember having and showed us how to chicken-fry a steak. He was a talented singer and I am grateful for his introducing me to some great country music and Texas swing in particular. Joe was the best basketball player on our Hampshire College intramural team and came up with our team's name, the "Armadillos". Once Joe found out...

Joe was a friend of mine at college. He was just one of those people you enjoyed being with - full of stories, observations. Because of Joe, I listened to Willie Nelson's Phases and Changes and heard Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain when I was a young man. Because of Joe, I learned about tacos and enchiladas. I was recently thinking about Joe and tried to find him. I'm sorry to have found this out about him.

RIP Johnny Melody of Johnny Melody & the Belmonts. He single-handedly brought down the house in Senior Follies at the close of our senior year at St. Mark´s. As the Belmonts, during rehearsals, Larry, Gary and I, had to learn to glaze over our eyes so as to not watch Joe, or the audience collapse in laughter, or we would have lost it too. Thank you, Joe, for all the good times we spent together in high school and turning me on to so much music.

When I arrived at St. Mark's in the 4th grade, Joe became my first and best friend. We lost touch over the years, but I will always have fond memories of our boyhood friendship.

May God´s loving kindness and comfort help you and your family through this very difficult time. Matthew 5:4