Joel Eric Firebaugh

January 4, 1977 - February 26, 2023 Denver, CO - Joel Eric Firebaugh passed away at his home in Denver on Sunday, February 26, 2023 from complications due to a deadly form of cancer, first diagnosed in January 2021.

Joel is the son of Glenn and Judy Rae Firebaugh of State College. He was born January 4, 1977, in Nashville, TN, and was raised in State College, where he attended State College Area High School. He played volleyball in high school and was active in his church youth group. After graduating with honors in 1995, he attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, where he earned a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2000.

Joel returned to State College, earning a Master's Degree in Environmental Engineering from Penn State University in 2004. That year he married his first wife, Sarah Elizabeth Firebaugh, and - after backpacking in the Andes for their honeymoon - they moved to Colorado where he worked as an Environmental Engineer Consultant at Air Sciences, Inc. Sarah Firebaugh was killed in a car accident in 2007.

Joel met his surviving wife, Danielle, in Colorado in 2009, and their daughter Giovanna (Gigi) was born in 2017. They enjoyed traveling to Mexico, Florida, and Danielle's home country of Brazil, where they attended the World Cup finals in 2014.

If it was broken, Joel could fix it. He had a special passion for working on cars, including a 1959 Mercedes that he bought in high school and continued to restore throughout his life. He met friends in college who shared his passion for cars and racing, and they cobbled together some interesting cars, including a car painted to look like the bat-mobile. Joel enjoyed the outdoors, especially mountain biking and hiking with family and friends. He climbed several mountain peaks in Colorado and enjoyed backpacking with friends.

Gigi was the center of Joel's world. He shared his love of cars with her, and she would often help him as he worked on cars in his garage. They built things together, took trips to the zoo and parks, and enjoyed bike rides in the summer and skiing in the winter.

Joel is survived by his wife, Danielle Massari Firebaugh; daughter Giovanna Massari Firebaugh; parents Dr. Glenn Firebaugh and Mrs. Judy Rae Firebaugh; sisters Rose Marie Dahlstrom and Heather Dawn Grissom and their husbands; eight nieces and nephews; and many cousins. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Sarah Elizabeth Firebaugh; maternal grandparents Raymond and Mary Thompson; and paternal grandparents George Lawrence Firebaugh and Rosanelle Firebaugh.

A memorial service was held Friday, March 10, at Horan & McConaty Funeral Home in Denver. There will also be a celebration of Joel's life in State College at a later date.