We have just learned the sad news that Joe Magro died two years ago in Alton, Illinois. He was nearly 65 and had been retired for 10 years. With the help of Libbie Peterson Britton, Judy Van Hagen and CE Welch, we located the following obituary text from the St. Louis Post Dispatch:Joseph Magro, a retired teacher in Alton, died June 30, 2005, of cancer at Alton Memorial Hospital in Alton. He was 64 and lived in Godfrey.
Mr. Magro was born in Springfield, Ill., and graduated from Springfield High School in 1958. He received a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in education, both from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Mr. Magro was an educator for more than 25 years at JB Johnson Career Development Center in Alton. He served in many capacities at the center, such as librarian and head of the television studio. Mr. Magro was also a longtime sponsor of the school's drama club. He retired in the mid-1990s.
While at the center, Mr. Magro taught night art classes at Lewis and Clark Community College in Godfrey for about 12 years.
In his spare time, Mr. Magro raised orchids and won numerous awards. He also enjoyed designing stained glass, martial arts and line dancing, in which he had several choreographed dances patented.
Mr. Magro is survived by a sister, Joanne J. Rockwood of Gainesville, Fla.
A memorial service was held at the Rose Garden Restaurant and Banquet Center in Alton.
Memorials to the Lewis and Clark Community College Foundation, Magro Art Scholarship Fund, Erickson 211, 5800 Godfrey Road, Godfrey, Ill., 62035; or the American Cancer Society, No. 5 Schiber Court, Maryville, Ill., 62062.
3 comments:
An odd coincidence: Lewis and Clark Community College is the school that used to be Monticello College where I went to prep school. The beautiful park-like campus with big stone buildings used to look a lot like Mount Holyoke but now has several modern buildings and a huge theater as well. I had no idea Joe Magro was in the area when I was there last. Sorry to hear of his death.
Barbara Edmiston Mitchell
Hi Barbara,
An interesting coincidence. My sister, Sue, lived in Godfrey for several years and is today in Alton. I've seen the gates to Monticello College many times.
Joe Magro Joe was a true adventurer. He had a license to fly hot-air balloons and was a master country line-dancer, who invented and patented dances like "Snap Button." In the 8th grade prophecy from Hay Edwards, he is cited as the discoverer of King Solomon's Mines. I enjoyed talking to him at Reunions because he always had something new to say.
Be well, everyone.
Will
God created the dog and said:
"Sit all day by the door of your house and bark at anyone who comes in or walks past. For this, I will give you a life span of twenty years."
The dog said: "That's a long time to be barking. How about only ten years and I'll give you back the other ten?"
So God agreed.
God then created the monkey and said:
"Entertain people, do tricks, and make them laugh. For this, I'll give you a twenty year life span."
The monkey said: "Monkey tricks for twenty years? That's a pretty long time to perform. How about I give you back ten like the dog did?"
And God agreed.
Then, God created the cow and said:
"You must go into the field with the farmer all day long and suffer under the sun, have calves and give milk to support the farmer's family For this, I will give you a life span of sixty Years."
The cow said: "That's kind of a tough life you want me to live for sixty years. How about twenty and I'll give back the other forty?"
And God agreed again.
God then created man and said:
"Eat, sleep, play, marry and enjoy your life. For this, I'll give you twenty years."
But man said: "Only twenty years? Could you possibly give me my twenty, the forty the cow gave back, the ten the monkey gave back, and the ten the dog gave back; that makes eighty, okay?"
"Okay," said God, "You asked for it."
So that is why for our first twenty years we eat, sleep, play and enjoy ourselves. For the next forty years we slave in the sun to support our family. For the next ten years we do monkey tricks to entertain the grandchildren. And for the last ten years we sit on the front porch and bark at everyone.
Life has now been explained to you...
Joe
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