Those we love don't go away, they walk beside us every day.
Obituary
Joseph H. Goldstein, 39, died on Friday February 7, 2025 at their home in Edison surrounded by their loving family.
Joe is survived by their adoring wife of 13 years, Amy, their two children, Elizabeth and Penelope; their parents Christine McNicholas (Kenneth Snyder) and Matthew Goldstein (Mary Sharkey); their siblings, Richard Goldstein, Ann Peters (Douglas Peters), Marlaina Pfister (Thomas Pfister), and Erin Snyder; and their Grandpa, Howard McNicholas as well as 5 nieces and nephews, countless other family members, and friends. They are predeceased by grandparents, Irving and Mary Goldstein and Jeanette McNicholas.
Joe was a devoted and loving partner and father, always able to make their girls laugh. They were an amazing musician, Dungeon Master extraordinaire, lover of all things horror and a lifelong fan of the NY Red Bulls, co-hosting the team's podcast, Seeing Red. Joe’s love of music started at a young age and served them well through the years, winning over Amy’s heart in song some 20 years ago and over and over again throughout their relationship. Joe came out as non-binary later in life, finding themselves during the COVID-19 lockdown. Joe lived their remaining days as their true self, with love and acceptance from their family and friends, their children being their biggest supporters and allies.
In September 2023 Joe was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. They gave it their all, endured several surgeries, radiation and chemotherapy. Joe truly kicked butt for as long as they could. Joe was a supportive friend, always willing to lend a listening ear or offer advice. The love and support from friends and family over the past year and a half was a true testament to just how wonderful a person Joe was. They were loved by so many.
As Joe requested, the family will be planning a celebration of life, with details to follow at a later date. Joe requested, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Trevor Project or Planned Parenthood.
Links
Here is the link for Joe's Spotify page with solo works: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7hdRQecBIEcaQ9jb1xDClL?si=_ffx-nB_QvuZzqGUku11BQ
Some Death In The Arena: https://youtube.com/@deathinthearena2207?si=QBO2VG-FL93avo56
The playlist Joe created for their Celebration of Life can be found here: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/63CiNo9B2bU4iZnL8aHvk4?si=MR0dQj4gSiWmfWPjL1nOcw
Joe playing music: https://youtube.com/@acousticboomerang1162?si=D-_wu9xZe8WZDeIA
Some more Joe playing music can be found here: https://youtube.com/@momaphly?si=Ndi_hZ6Ry6P06FLQ
Gallery
Videos
Memory wall
This is, however, a gross oversimplification. Joe and I were both writers and I had put a call out for help covering our local club - a little org called New York Red Bulls. We often disagreed about the goings on in games and in the offseason, but we were always respectful about it.
This laid the foundations for a decade of friendship. Joe was always there for me as a support - I turned to them often to talk music and navigate parenthood. My relationship with them was always a joyful thing, even though they thought I liked a looooooot of bad movies haha
I will miss them, but I am grateful to have shared their journey for as long as I did. They were a magical, wonderful human being and their memory will always be a blessing to me.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qGHrrR8cVuiV3cCOsOBNaCZjgiCtTPKePaOaJSOzwtU/edit?usp=drivesdk
But what I remember most was what I quietly witnessed at most every family gathering I attended. I always noticed how Joe and Amy were holding hands. And how when they passed each other in a room, they would stop and kiss or touch or hug. Even just sitting and talking with family, they were holding hands. These little gestures were always there, over the many years and occasions I spent with them, and they made an impression on me.
Joe will always be an inspiration for their strength and courage and to me, also for this simple everyday way they loved their wife. That’s what I will always remember. Xoxo
"You Should Write About it "
By Ed Carbajal
In 2014, I had a conversation with Joey Goldstein about an MMA fight and a fighter.
I don't remember which fight or which fighter, but they could tell it was something I was knowledgeable about. They knew that I trained through our mutual friend, but when we were speaking about the sport of MMA, they listened to me talk about it.
Then they said, “You should write about it.”
I never thought about writing about something I liked. It's not something that ever crossed my mind. Writing about half-naked athletes fighting professionally, who cares?
A lot of people apparently.
Joey was a creative person. They wrote about a sport and team they liked, (the New York Red Bulls), they even co-hosted a podcast on them. When they weren’t writing or doing the podcast, they played music. They were also a spouse, parent, and horror movie fan. They were an easy person to like.
When they made their suggestion to me, I said “I wouldn't even know how to go about it.”
They did, and they put in touch with the people they did it for. It was a short-lived experience, but it's what got me into writing about the fight business.
It's what got me into writing.
We weren't close friends. We lost touch as friends do. Occasionally messaging each other on social media to talk about how writing about the sports we liked got us closer to it. Them to soccer and me to martial arts.
You never know when someone you know does something nice, that seems like nothing at the time but becomes a blessing that puts you on a path to something great.
Joey did that for me.
I don't remember if I said thank you, but they knew I appreciated what they did.
Joey is gone now.
They passed away on February 7. While we were only friends because of a mutual friend, they nudged me into something that's a big part of my life now.
Rest easy Goldstein, thanks for pointing me in the right direction.
Family tree
Favorites
The Rocky Horror Picture Show
The Shawshank Redemption
Cheese Burgers
Opossum
Celebration of Life Service
