Joe Roditz

by Stephanie Canter

Joe was born in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1941 and graduated from C.W. Post College in 1967, one year after he married Joyce. He taught elementary school in the Brentwood Public School system, Long Island, New York, until retirement in 1998. While teaching he conducted outdoor educational programs in an effort to raise environmental awareness in his students.

Joe has always loved nature and been interested in science. In 1968 he and Joyce took a cross-country road trip, camping in the wilderness and bought their first geode. Now their collection comprises of 300-400 rocks and each rock has its own story of where, when and how. A trip to the Galapagos Islands is planned for March, 2009, with subsequent trips to New Zealand and Australia.

Joe and Joyce have lived in Palm Beach County since Joyce retired in 2001. They have one married daughter and one grandson living in Amity Harbor, N.Y. and a son who lives in Seattle. Joe became a volunteer at Green Cay in 2005 and took the docent training. He participates in the morning programs for school children and other groups in addition to his various duties as a docent on Tuesdays, from 1:00 - 3:00 pm.

Joe is also a volunteer member of Community Emergency Response Team, CERT, at Venetian Isles. He is certified as a first responder to gather information as well as perform triage, a form of medical evaluation to determine the extent of injuries. All pertinent information is passed along to the fire and police departments and the emergency medical technicians.

Joe and Joyce love growing orchids and are members of the Mount Botanical Society. Joe also likes fishing for fresh water bass, using the catch and release system. One of the ways he keeps fit is by taking a walk every evening after dinner.