Joel Richert Obituary
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Elizabeth Watson
November 15, 2023
Joel Richert was a shining star to the Roanoke Valley and especially OSW neighborhood and historic districts in the area. Joel was brilliant and smart and knew the law of the Architecture for historic districts and was passionate about this and her friends and many other subjects. Joel, Jane, Debbie and many others. I cherish the camel figurine she presented me with look at it often and remember her Joel never spoke ill of her husband Bob and dearly loved her children and grand children.
John and Genevieve Goss
August 2, 2016
It was always our pleasure seeing you and Joel at the Kandinsky Trio concerts. We are so sorry for your loss. Please accept our sincere condolences.
Tom Soranno
July 28, 2016
Bob, I'm sorry for your loss. I admired Joel's passion and attention to preserving the history of OSW. I'll cherish the many talks and banter we had at the ARB meetings over the restorations we did on Marshall and Day Ave. We can't hold a candle to the work the two of you did, but her legacy will continue to live on in the preservation work we do in the neighborhood.
July 27, 2016
Thoughts and prayers for the family. Great memories of a wonderful lady.
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blanche hamden
July 27, 2016
Wonderful memories of her as a patron and her bright daughter Tammy as a student!
Roger Pommerenke
July 25, 2016
Bob, so sorry for your loss
Frank and Carolyn Baratta
July 25, 2016
To Bob and family, Carolyn and I send our deepest sympathies in this time of sadness. We also were shocked at the news of her passing. May you find comfort knowing that she and you are in the thoughts and prayers of the many people you have touched.
Linda Lynn Littrell
July 25, 2016
Legacy, that is exactly the word to describe the effect that Joel had on not only her family but a huge extended family of OSW. Listen - there is no way to say how powerful her effect was on our community. She was a fearless watchdog. The amount of knowledge about the existing houses AND the missing ones and the multiple families that lived in each was completely amazing. She knew everyone, from top city officials to the people on the ground making things happen. Dinner with Joel and Bob was fun, engrossing and informative.
Rest sweet great lady.
Candace Martin
July 25, 2016
My heart goes out to the Richert family. I knew Mrs. Richert for at least 14 years through work in the historic district of the City. She definitely knew her history. Prayers.
Jeanne Bollendorf
July 25, 2016
Joel has such a great legacy of preserving history in our community. So sorry for your loss, we will miss her greatly.
Bill & Judy Baumgardner
July 25, 2016
Our hearts and prayers go out to the Richert family at this time. This came as a complete shock to us. Judy had worked so much with Joel on Old Southwest information. She was a true pillar of preservation.
Nancy Blaesing ONeal
July 25, 2016
Bob, Curt,Wendi, and Tam. So sorry for your loss. She was the glue that held so much together. I have thought of her often and how she introduced me to OSW and people in the city. You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Kinta Noble
July 24, 2016
I am saddened by the death of Mrs. Richest. Many memories made as a teen who babysit her two children. Sincere sympathy to the family.
Kinta Noble
July 24, 2016
I will miss my seat mate at the Roanoke Symphony concerts
for so many years with Joel and Robert by her side. Wonderful
memories. Sincere sympathy to the family.
Peggy-Ann Neumann
Gretchen Notermann
July 24, 2016
Bob and family,
I have not forgotten you, although you may have long-ago forgotten me! I knew Joel as a friend and mentor as I worked in the West End neighborhood in the 1980's. You were both so sweet to me when my marriage broke up and I never forgot that. A great lady has left this planet, but Joel's spirit lives on in Old Southwest and as an example to all of us who strive to improve our communities. My sympathy,
Gretchen Notermann, Fincastle
Mark Clark
July 24, 2016
I met Joel when I first came to Roanoke 15 years ago. She championed my new company and helped me get established in business in Roanoke. She and Robert became dear friends over the years. Susan and I will miss her very much. I am very sure however, that if anyone in Heaven has the wrong windows, they won't have them for long.
Phillip Morgan
July 23, 2016
Since 1972 my Pied Piper, Mentor, Friend, Advocate, Teacher, protector. I will miss her & the adventures we had (some good...some not so good!) and the wealth of knowledge she generously shared. A huge loss to us all. Thoughts to Mr. R, Tam, Curt, Wendi, Pot Roast & Benjy.
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318 Church Ave. SW, Roanoke, VA 24016
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