Tuesday, December 16, 2014
12/16/14 An email I sent to Joe's Golf Club, Shore View G.C. last night:
Dear John: As you know,I have been trying to find Joe Montana for a few months now. I found out today that Joe Montana died Nov.11,2014, the Link to his obituary is posted below. My emotions are mixed because I will miss Joe beyond measure but his loving friendship will be with me forever. My tears are tears of sorrow and tears of joy because my faith in God tells me where Joe is and why. About 6 months ago,Joe sent me an email that said it would be his last email to me because he was no longer going to be using his computer. I should have known that it was Joe's way of saying goodbye without causing me any emotional stress. I did know that Joe was having some gastrointestinal problems but he told me he was getting some positive results at the Northport VA hospital. I should have known that Joe did not want to give me any more stress than I was having because of my cancer operation and the chemo to follow. But that was the way Joe was, a platoon Sgt in the Marine Corp who fought in all but three major battles in the south Pacific in WW2, and refused two purple hearts because he didn't want his mother to be notified that he had been wounded. Joe was a very special man who was a real brave heart who loved golf with a passion and loved his golf buddies even more.And the record shows how he loved the Shore View Golf Club. I was one of those lucky ones to have a friend like Joe,and so was my son John,who Joe coached for a couple of years. I really feel blessed to have Joe as one of my dearest friends and brothers which he will be forever. Joe would really get excited when he told me about John's round,stroke by stroke. On one such occasion,on a 600 yd. Par 5, Joe told my son to lay up with his 2nd shot to avoid a lateral water hazard to the left of the fairway. Joe saw that my son was not happy with playing a safe shot,and told John to play the hole as he wanted to. John smiled and thanked Joe for seeing it his way. John took out a 3 wood metal Taylor and hit the ball with a slight draw. The ball hit about 10 feet in front of the green and rolled up 10 Ft short of the pin. John sank that eagle putt and gave Joe one of his great golf stories that he told many many times with sincere joy and love. Joe loved the great moments that he experienced while playing with his friends and buddies who he loved and who loved him. He loved his Josephine and family with his greatest love of all and created his paradise on and off the golf course. Joe would often tell me that I was his hero because of things I did, but, to me, he was my hero, the older brother that I never had, and someone who showed me how to be a loving friend forever, and I told him so. God is good, and someday I know I will see Joe again, and with God's mercy He will build a Dyker Beach in Heaven that we can play when in our prime and with no limit on how many holes we can play. Right now ,I'll end this notice with some tears and a loving goodbye to my friend who taught me how to be a friend forever.
With loving memories,I say goodbye Joe..until we meet again, Jackie Feltman
Nolan & Taylor-Howe Funeral Home
