Joseph McGee 7/07/85 – 11/27/08

It is with great sadness that the HWA reports the passing of one of its members, Joseph W. McGee. McGee, 23, of Worcester, passed away suddenly Thursday, November 27, from complications with diabetes.

McGee was the author of the novels The Reaper and Snow Hill and a member of the New England Horror Writers Association. His family describes him as “a quiet giant with a mountain for a heart who left us better than he found us.”

Excerpted from the Worcester Telegram & Gazette:

He leaves his mother, Theresa (Kwiatkowski) Conte-McGee; his brother, Anthony J. Conte and his wife Francesca; his sister, Karin M. Conte and her partner Diedra Finney; his grandparents Joseph W. and Theresa (Ritacco) Kwiatkowski; his “Bestest” friend, Jen Swindell; his two nieces, Mia and Gabriella Conte, and his nephew, Alessandro Conte, whom he absolutely adored; his aunt and godmother, MaryAnn Ritacco and her husband Gianfranco; his godfather, William Ritacco, Jr, and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday from the Mercadante Funeral Home & Chapel at 370 Plantation Street, Worchester, MA, with a Mass of Christian burial at 11:00 AM in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel-St Ann Church at 24 Mulberry Street in Worchester. Calling hours will be held on Tuesday from 5-8 PM. Interment will be in St. John’s Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to: The Robert W. Hansen Diabetes Fund, c/o The Fraternal Order of Eagles, 53-55 Norfolk St., Worcester, MA 01604.

Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of Mr. McGee.

Below is a video tribute created by one of Joe’s many friends:

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AeiqfqgmcfQ]