Robert Joseph Inducil

I shared a few memories of Joe at his memorial reception on October 17. This is an expanded version of those remarks, with a little more about the Joe I was fortunate enough to know, work alongside, and call my friend for 21 years.

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REMEMBERING JOE

The first time I met Joe was also my very first day working at Apple, at the Pasadena store, back in early 2005.

This was my first real grown-up job, and I was already pretty nervous.

I walked into the back of the store, past the Genius Room. The door was open, and I heard a voice call out, “Hey, can you help me out for a second?”

I said, “Sure!”

He said, “I’m about to discharge the CRT on this old iMac, and I need you to spot me. Just keep an eye on me, and if I start getting electrocuted, kick my feet out from under me.”

I was absolutely petrified.

Here I was, just minutes into my very first day at Apple, and the first employee I’d ever spoken to was asking me to save him from electrocution.

And that was Joe.

To this day, I honestly don’t know if he was completely serious, if he was having a little fun with the new guy, or maybe a little of both.

But looking back, I can’t imagine a more fitting introduction.

Over the next 21 years, I would come to know Joe as one of the most brilliant, thoughtful, principled, and genuinely fascinating people I've ever met.

Joe was a walking encyclopedia. He was a craftsman, a technician, a problem solver, a historian, a reader, a storyteller, a photographer, and an endlessly curious mind.

But I think what made Joe truly special wasn't simply how much he knew. It was how much he wanted to share.

Joe loved passing along what he'd learned. And he'd learned an awful lot.

He had a story for everything. Little lessons, pieces of history, observations, explanations, and sometimes warnings, all drawn from a lifetime of paying CLOSE attention to detail.

A seemingly simple technical question could open the door to a fascinating explanation of how something worked, why it worked that way, how it used to work, and why understanding that history mattered. There might be a tangent, a particularly good anecdote, an obscure reference, or a perfectly timed pun along the way.

He was an extraordinary resource to his colleagues, but more importantly, he was generous with his time and his expertise. He wanted people to UNDERSTAND. He wanted them to SUCCEED. He wanted the people around him to be better equipped to solve problems, make decisions, and do good work.

Joe loved what he did. He loved knowing how things worked, and he took tremendous pride in doing things right. He had extraordinarily high standards, particularly for himself.

There was a fire inside Joe. He was always looking for ways to make things better, for his colleagues, his customers, and the people he loved.

He wasn't content to simply accept that something had always been done a certain way. He wanted to understand whether it was the right way. Could it be improved? Could it be more reliable? Could we make things easier for the people depending on us?

That was Joe.

He was principled, careful, meticulous, and an absolute professional. I've never known anyone more devoted to the mission, or more passionate about the work we do at JPL and the work we did at Apple.

But for all his professional dedication, there was one thing that always took precedence: his family.

Especially his children.

No matter how important the work was, if his family needed him, there was never any question where his priorities were. I admired that tremendously. Joe knew what mattered, and he lived accordingly.

There were times when we'd leave work still deep in a conversation about some Star Trek episode or a complicated problem we'd solved that day. Or he'd be updating me on the latest developments in his never-ending war with the PARROTS and SQUIRRELS that were attacking his house! … Then, out of nowhere, Joe's face would change. He'd spring into the air like a cartoon character because he'd just realized he was about to be late picking up the kids. And off he'd go!

Through all the years at JPL, Joe became a wonderful confidant and an even better friend. We spent so much time together, and we talked about absolutely everything.

Science fiction and technology were always front and center. Silo, Asimov’s Foundation, Crouch’s Dark Matter, Andor, and of course Star Trek -- especially The Next Generation, Lower Decks, and Strange New Worlds.

But our conversations could go anywhere. Formula One, Eckhart Tolle, the mysteries of the universe, actual dark matter, whatever technological development had caught our attention that week.

Joe had great taste, and he somehow always knew what would catch my interest. He and I shared a love for thoughtful, challenging, often dark science fiction. He always had something new to recommend, and he knew exactly how to get me interested without spoiling a thing.

And the joy, the absolute glee he got from technology!

Drones, EVs, cameras, iPads, computers, software, gadgets, and all the extraordinary little machines we surround ourselves with. Joe never lost that sense of wonder.

Steve Jobs famously described the computer as a “bicycle for the mind.” I can't think of a better ambassador for that idea than Joe. He understood what technology could make possible, and he loved sharing that excitement with others.

And Joe was funny! He was PLAYFUL! His puns, his observations, his perfectly timed remarks, and that unmistakable SMIRK.

There was nobody quite like him.

What I find myself missing most are the conversations. Not just the big, fascinating ones, but the little everyday exchanges you take for granted when you've worked with somebody for years.

There are still things happening in the world that make me immediately wonder what Joe would think. I miss his blog. I'd love to know what he'd have to say about a foldable iPhone!

There was still so much I wanted to talk to him about. So many conversations we hadn't finished, and so many we hadn't even started yet.

After 21 years, I genuinely felt like we were just getting started.

If there's one thing I'll take away from losing Joe, it's this: Don't put off great conversations with great people. Have them now. Ask questions. Share what excites you. Make time for the people who make you curious about the world.

Because that was one of Joe's greatest gifts. He made the world more interesting simply by sharing what he knew, what he'd experienced, and what he loved.

I'm incredibly lucky that I got to spend so many years working alongside him. Forty hours a week, year after year. Learning from him, laughing with him, and calling him my friend.

And somehow, it still wasn't enough time.

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Perhaps because the opportunities for us to connect were fewer and farther between, it’s easy for me to remember almost every memory we share together. And those are the memories I will keep in my heart forever, dear cousin. What was never lost on me was your love for your family, friends, and relatives. No matter how much time and distance passed, all of you—your curiosity, joy, and love—were always a constant. I will miss you tremendously.

❤️

I'll never forget our childhood. Guy, Joe and me running amok in Evvy's house. Joey, to us, was always the kindest, must dependable, good person among us. Amazing artist, thinker and like a brother to me. Life takes us in different paths and we drifted, but even after not having seen him in years, I know in my heart that we would be there for each other if we needed one another. Rest in peace, my friend. - Javier

joey, my dear cousin. even though we grew up on different coasts, i still considered
you one of my closest cousins. we were always very different... but we clicked. you were goofy, geeky, and sensitive.. and i was... just not those things ! 😎 but i loved your insights on everything.. movies..gadgets.. our grandparents.. our siblings. you always had a very special perspective on everything that was just so "joey". :)

the summers that me and my sister spent at your west covina house played a big role in my childhood memories..and your friends jennifer and javier.. quickly became mine too. we always had a laugh when
we hung out and i will cherish these memories.

the last time i got to hang with you was at our cousin anton's wedding in dec 2023. and even then, you and i grabbed a drink at the bar together.. caught up on life, and had a laugh.

you were taken too soon from us my dear cousin for reasons we can't understand. i hope that you are resting in peace and that you know that you were loved. you will be missed. and we will have a laugh together again someday.

I'll see you dear cousin. may you rest in eternal peace.

love,
Tricia

I knew Joe from Apple and was privileged to be a groomsman in his wedding. He was a good friend that made me think as much as he made me laugh. And he was good at making me laugh.

I had the pleasure of working with Joe at R001. Some might see working at an Apple Store as a standard retail job but it’s absolutely not. It’s a brotherhood and it’s where so many of us came together and became a part of a cultural and technological revolution. The tech was new but there was genuine curiosity and excitement. And to me, Joe was always the face that spearheaded that enthusiasm. I worked alongside Joe and he always took the time to teach me new concepts and all of its possibilities. He saw the ever-evolving world with whimsy and excitement. I cherished our talks then and I will continue to take that enthusiasm with me as we navigate this new world. He always saw the good in people and beyond. May his children and family know that he inspired everyone he crossed paths with in a truly earnest way and he will be missed so much. He truly was the best of our little island of misfits. We love you Joe.