Joseph A. Kappa

Joseph A. Kappa – 7/31/56 to 2/29/2016
Joseph Alan Kappa was the 2nd of 7 children of Joann and Mike Kappa. The Kappa’s were a true “west-side” family. He attended St. Teresa, Dater Middle School and Western Hills High School.
After high school, Joe attended and graduated from the the Christ Hospital School of Radiology Technology. He went on to be a Special Procedure technologist. Many radiologists preferred Joe to be by their side during angiograms and heart catheterizations, as Joe was always calm and skilled in these delicate procedures. A few years later, Joe went back to Mount St. Joseph to attain his Bachelor of Science degree, and then Xavier University for his Master’s degree in Hospital Administration. After graduation, Joe taught at Xavier University, as he had many years of work experience to offer the students. Joe worked as a Radiology Technologist at The Christ Hospital, and as an Administrator in Radiology at Children’s Hospital, Mercy West, and Bethesda North Hospital.
Joe always loved animals; as he had quite a variety of pets; snakes, raccoons, foxes, fish, frogs, birds, and even ordinary cats and dogs. We even adopted our neighbor’s chickens for a year. Joe loved all animals. In his youth, Joe was an active member of the Cincinnati Junior Zoology club. Joe also loved participating in St. Teresa’s Boy Scout troop. Joe (and all his brothers) attained the highest rank in Boy Scouting – Eagle. His two sons, Joe and Andy, and two nephews Kevin and Michael, also were inspired to achieve this great honor. Along with his childhood friends, Paul Krusling and Pete Strimple, Joe would always be off on adventures looking for snakes, turtles, birds, or rescuing salamanders from a pond in danger of drying up!
While in high school, Joe ran track and excelled in pole vaulting. He even set a school record. Joe continued to stay in shape by participating in many athletic events such as Triathlons, and even completed several Cincinnati Flying Pig marathons. He said jogging always helped him to think better!
Joe met his wife, Cathy, at the Christ hospital in 1978. Joe’s father, Mike worked in the lab, and as Joe would visit his dad, he eventually was introduced to Cathy by Mike. They were married in 1980, and eventually settled in Delhi. They have three extraordinary children: Joe, Theresa and Andy. Joe also has 3 beautiful grandchildren: Joey, Brennan and Leon.
Joe was a very gentle and caring man. Could that be why he was asked to be godfather to seven lucky kids? David Kappa, Courtney Kappa, Lisa Malone, Margaux Begehr, Mary Kate Behan, Amy Hutchison and Alex Davis.
As an adult, Joe because a member of the Sons of Italy along with his Dad and brothers. He enjoyed going to the Italian dinners, and worked the Newport Italian festival.
Joe was a member of Our Lady of Victory Parish for over 30 years. He served as an Usher, and coach for soccer and baseball. He was also a Cub Scout and Boy Scout leader with OLV’s Scout Troop 909. Joe encouraged advancement in Scouting, and exposed the boys to as many adventures and skills as possible. Many boys became Eagle Scouts under Joe’s leadership as Scoutmaster. The troop went caving in Kentucky, rappelling in the Red River Gorge, hiked the Appalachian Trail and ventured to Sea Base.
Joe enjoyed bird watching at the Oxbow, and got involved with organizations such as the Western Wildlife corridor. He maintained a birding website:” Cincinnati Birders.” He could never understand why everyone was not as passionate about bird watching as he was. The grandchildren were given binoculars and they went bird watching too!
Let’s see, the birds were mentioned….can’t forget the bees! Joe had a never ending interest in everything, and for decades maintained beehives. Usually in the backyard, but he also set up and took care of beehives at the Cincinnati Nature Center. He and a friend even created a small business called the “Bee Busters.” If you had a problem with bees, that’s who you called. The Delhi police even called upon Joe’s services. Maybe you could call Joe the “bee whisperer.” The teachers at OLV received jars of honey for Christmas many years!
Joe was also involved with the High Pointer Adventure club. Each state in the USA has the highest elevation point marked by a US geological marker. Joe had attained 42 of the 50 states. Cathy accompanied him on some of these climbs. There were almost always some interesting stories with each mountain climb. It was also a great way to see our beautiful country. Cathy & Joe also enjoyed traveling outside the USA, and visited Italy, Germany, England, Canada and Mexico.
Always a nature enthusiast, Joe got involved with the Audubon Society, and served as its treasurer. Joe was so infectious with his passion for nature, that you could not help to be interested also. After his passing, neighbors are wondering who to call next time they find a snake in their landscaping, or who will take care of injured birds they find? To this day, when friends see a salamander or other “creepy crawlers”, they will think of Joe.
Joe always dreamed of owning Rental properly. He bought and managed 2 four bedroom units in Westwood. He was very handy with dealing with all the repairs that come with rental properly. In some ways, Joe was a mentor to the many tenants we met in those apartments.
Hunting and fishing were some of Joe’s hobbies. He took deer with bow and arrow, turkey, and especially loved to go fishing. He could filet a fish in less than one minute! He shared the fishing passion with anyone who would go fishing with him, but especially Andy, his son-in-law Aurelien, grandson Joey, father in law Bob George, and even his physician, Dr. Alexander.
Our neighbors and friends were extremely precious to Joe. Living in a cul-de-sac street, we enjoyed many pit fires, laughter and storytelling. Joe even created an outdoor movie screen in the back yard and sponsored “Outdoor movie nights.” Nature hikes tree houses, search for tadpoles in the pond and even paint ball wars were a common occurrence in the backyard.
Almost two years ago, Joe was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic melanoma in his lungs. Overnight, he became an expert on the disease by researching everything he could. That is how we became involved with MD Anderson in Houston, Texas which is a leader in the field in treating melanoma. Working with our Cincinnati oncologist, Joe underwent many diagnostic tests, drugs and procedures to combat this horrible disease. Some worked well, and others did not. Joe never complained about the myriad of needle sticks and overall pain. Joe always commented that if this disease had to happen to either one of us, he’s glad it happened to him and not me. That’s just how he was-so unselfish. When the disease could no longer be controlled by any drug known, the tumors grew exponentially. At this point, we brought Joe home, and lovingly cared for him. Between Joey (a paramedic) and Theresa (a nurse) he got the best care possible. In his final moments, Joe verbalized “I got to go” and “I’m ready to meet God.” He literally died peacefully in our arms.
Joe’s number one priority
was his wife and family. He loved giving his time to enrich their lives and taking us on adventures. He totally expanded Cathy’s scope of “human experiences”. He especially enjoyed becoming a grandparent or “pa-pa”. The Kappa family is huge, and we were always blessed with many wonderful aunts, uncles, and cousins. Joe was a friend to all, as they were attracted to his kind demeanor and generosity.
If you don’t have a smile on your face or a tear in your eye by now, then you really didn’t know Joe Kappa. Somehow I’m not surprised that he left this world on a Leap year (2/29). Joe never did things the ordinary way. Maybe that’s why he was loved so much. He taught us how to live life fully on this earth and he also showed us how to die with dignity. The world will be much less exciting with Joe’s passing: he will truly be missed by friends and family alike!

Tributes & Condolences

Posted by Mike Camacci on March 08, 2016 (16:15)
We should all be so lucky as to be remembered so fondly as Joe. What a wonderful tribute to a man who clearly impacted many people during his life. I had the opportunity to know Joe via The Order Sons of Italy & will miss him. Deepest condolences to his family & loved one's. God speed Joe....

Posted by Kim DelConte on March 06, 2016 (22:04)
What a beautiful tribute to Joe. I've known him 30 years, worked with him at Christ Hospital and learned so much from him. He was such a kind, funny, selfless man. I will miss him dearly and would like to send my condolences to all of his family.

Posted by Jane Kettlehake on March 04, 2016 (19:57)
Will always have fond memories of Joe. My thoughts and prayers are with the family

Posted by Tony Mazzaro on March 03, 2016 (17:23)
Cathy, my prayers are with you. May God's Blessing of Peace and Love be with you and your family.

Posted by Tom Simiele and family on March 03, 2016 (17:18)
Cathy and Family, I and my kids were so sorry to hear of Joe's death. It was only a few weeks before that we were on the Texas Dike looking for wild sea birds and the famous Paraketes of Galveston Island. We were so happy to hear that he had been given an OK to enter the trial tests for the new drugs, only to be shocked a short while later to hear he had been admitted to the hospital in Cinci. There is really nothing that we could say that will ease the loss of a husband or a father, but know that we are thinking of you all and share your grief and sorrow - and also your joy, that you know he is certainly in heaven and at rest. And if Saint Francis took any birds with him to heaven, I am sure Joe is already cataloging them...

Posted by Matt Snow on March 03, 2016 (10:41)
I knew Joe through our Sons Of Italy meetings. He was a great guy and we all will sorely miss him. Deepest condolences to his family and loved ones. May God's blessings be with you all, and may Joe rest in the peace of Christ.

Posted by Kris & Charlie Miller on March 02, 2016 (21:01)
We were so sad to hear of Joe's passing. He was such a special guy and loved by so many. So many memories of Joe with scouts, PTO, soccer and many OLV functions. Cathy and family you are all in our prayers. RIP Joe.

Posted by Sandy Jeffries on March 02, 2016 (16:04)
Cathy, So saddened to hear of your loss. Wishing strength and love to you and your family during this difficult time.

Posted by Nancy Boyd on March 02, 2016 (12:59)
Oh Cathy (and family), I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Posted by Linda Bertke on March 01, 2016 (21:48)
Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Posted by Beth and Ken Ryan on March 01, 2016 (21:13)
We are so sorry to read about big Joe's passing. He always had a smile on his face. He was a great scout leader. Kyle Ryan loved his campouts with Joe. Cathy, you and your family are in our thoughts and prayers.

Posted by Don Owens on March 01, 2016 (20:55)
I am very sad to hear about the passing of Joe. I learned a lot working with him and enjoyed his stories about climbing, birds, and his family. He was a very nice man.

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