On May 28th, we received the call no family can ever be ready for. A loving son, brother, grandson, nephew, cousin, and friend had passed away. My brother, Josh, was an avid reader, a nerd, a musician, and a HUGE sports fan (every year was THE year the Diamondbacks and Cardinals would win it all)! But above all else, he had such a huge, generous, and loving heart. He stayed close to friends from his childhood, and they were an important part of his life. His sisters were always greeted with a smile and a “little nerds” shout out! Josh touched a lot of lives, and his sense of humor and unique outlook on life will be forever cherished by many.

Josh saw the environment and the people living in the Mesa homeless community from such a compassionate viewpoint. He told his mom and stepdad that he wanted to get to a place in his life where he could reach out and help the people that were trying to survive homelessness. He cared so much about the struggles of others, and he talked about “giving back” by becoming an AA sponsor or a volunteer at the rehab center so that he could support and inspire people who have been where he was. Josh wanted people to be able to experience the peace and empowerment he felt that comes with overcoming addiction.

Our family asks for contributions in lieu of flowers to assist with caring for Josh and his funeral expenses. We also want to share the special, caring and selfless nature of Josh by helping the community that touched his life during his journey to a sober life. To honor the compassion my brother had, any and all donations that surpass the goal of $5k (the cost of his final services) will be donated equally, in Josh's name, between the Joshua House, a sober living facility that helped my brother beyond measure, and a nonprofit to be chosen that will serve the homeless plight in his hometown of Mesa, AZ.