Joe Herzenberg dies
Oct 28, 2007 Community, Obituary Jump to Comments
Joe Herzenberg, longtime Chapel Hill Town Council member, Democratic Party stalwart, Greenways champion and an astute historian of local politics died today from complications of diabetes.
He left this world, we are told, surrounded by friends. Details of memorials to follow.
Update: Thread on OP: We’ll Miss You Joe
[...] news stories are already up at the N&O, Daily Tar Heel, and the Carrboro Citizen. Online is an oral history interview from 1985 with Joe about the Cane Creek reservoir [...]
i loved joe. when i first started going to driade a little over ten years ago he would always manage to arrive minutes before me no matter what time i would get there so he could swipe my table.
over the years we found that we both loved and cared deeply about a lot of the same things, not just the coffee and favorite sitting spot. my favorite conversaton with him took place the morning after i had watched a documentary called “swatiska to jim crow” and i went on for an hour about how brilliant and moving it was, how much i learned and how it answered so many questions i never knew to ask. his eyes teared up and he told me he was involved with the project and was partly responsible for it having been made. i had no idea who he was at the time or what he did. he ended every conversation by saying “kathy, you really are a very strange, strange woman” . he was a good listener and an excellent evesdropper. his timing always perfect (table thief) i’ll miss you.
Joe, Joe, Joe! I got to know you as your barista at Caffe Driade over the past seven years. You were always there for good conversation into the late hours when I was there closing the caffe. When you would show up late on a Tuesday night, I knew we’d be there until 2am talking about local politics, food, travel, and some of your latest adventures. You always had a big smile, a big voice, and a big laugh, so I always loved your company. Chapel Hill has lost one of its greatest eccentrics and citizens. No doubt your influence there has changed the town forever. Miss you already Joe!