Gender

Male

Location

Ritzville, WA

Birthday:

May 7

Age:

57

Way Corp group(s) I was in

Family Corps 5

Where I live

Ritzville, Washington USA (just moved here after almost 22 years in Seattle)

Married or Single

Single

About Me

Member of the very first "Junior Corps" (us kids came up with the name, but some might remember that Greg Bernardini wanted us to actually be called the “Corps Cadets”), but that was a very long time ago (especially now that I am a “40 Something” looking back). I just bought a house in a small town in Eastern Washington State (that is, after almost 22 years of living in Seattle). The town is very "Norman Rockwell" and it gives me the opportunity to concentrate my writing (see below). Photography and Music are my passions (although my music writing has taken a back seat to my picture taking in recent years). I just recently started to go through my photos from the “early days” (especially the shots from Corps Week/ROA 1987 and 88, which I will be slowly adding to the slide show below). My entire photo catalog includes approximately 12,000+ images (my main specialty being “Environmental Portraiture”, which is just a fancy term meaning “people in outdoor surroundings”). I pretty much lost touch with “the group” (you know who you are), but just a few weeks ago, I got a call out of the blue from my oldest and dearest friend, Linus Mathis, who told me about this “Way Corps” website (to which I have found many from the old group here). What a trip! Outside of my Family Corps years, I grew up in the New York/New Jersey area (Queens, Brooklyn and my later high school years in Ringwood, New Jersey). I can still remember my Mom Ginger’s twig in Whitestone, where the group would have to start sitting on the stairs going out of the apartment (due to the fact that there were too many people to fit in the 2 bedroom apartment there to hear “The Word”). I also remember the classes at Shelter Island and the numerous weekends and “Advance’s at the camp in Port Jervis (when John Lynn first came to New York to run things in 1976). There were those “Blitz Creek” days on 86th Street in Brooklyn (where you weren’t supposed to let a single person pass by without witnessing to them). Those were some times! I am looking forward to reconnecting with all those who have helped to make my life what it is… Especially those of “The Second, First Generation”!

My Interests

Photography (exept for a very special girl, My first love), Music (I play piano), Writing and "Talking Story"

Employment or Career

I am a Photographer by trade, currently working in Photo Preservation, Restoration and Repair (and I still take on a photo assignment or two from time to time). I operate under the business name "THE PHOTOSAVE PROJECT". I might sound a bit like a salesman by saying this, but EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS, SLIDES AND NEGATIVES DIGITALLY SAVED AND PRESERVED! The point is that photographs are printed on paper (think “a loaf of bread”, THEY ARE VERY PERISHABLE!). Part of my work involves educating people in the practice of photography and preserving their work for future generations. I always welcome a phone call with questions about what I do and how I might be able to assist you in properly SAVING YOUR PICTURES BEFORE THEY GO BAD!. My phone number is (509) 659-0700, or I can me reached via email (joepurpura@photosave-project.com). My website (www.photosave-project.com) is currently under construction, so feel free on checking it out in about a month.

Music I Like

Any of the Old Way Music (from the early 70's, you should see and hear my mp3 collection - I have pretty much all the good stuff - including the ORIGINAL RECORDING of the first "Pressed Down" album!). I also like Coldplay, Fountains of Wayne, The Feeling (they are from Britian), Missy Higgins, Garbage, Todd Rundgren, Train (BIG TIME!), Alanis, Lifehouse, U2 (of course!), Emerson Lake and Palmer, Yes, Crowded House... ACTUALLY, WAY TOO MUCH TO LIST IT ALL!

Books I Like

My greatest interest is in history and various aspects of the human condition… I have always enjoyed reading books like… "The Way, Living in Love" (Written of course by Elena, one of my literary heroes and not to mention, I was friends with her daughter Sylvia) "The Rescue" and "Love Without Hypocrisy" (Two books written by Dennis McGee, someone I knew from the 7th Corps). Actually, I am in the process of writing my first book... The working title is... "Vision - Through the Eye of the Second, First Generation" (If you think about it long enough, you will probably be able to figure out what the book is about).

Television I like

Mostly Science and History related programs, Sci-Fi and News.

Movies I like

Mostly Sci-Fi and History related films.

Sports Teams I like

Not too much into sports.

My Email Address:

joe@joepurpura.com