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Daily Email8Mar/092:11 AM
Popular roller derby EMT found dead on Saturday
By Michi-chan
Joe “Bones” July, known to many in the derby world as just “Bones” was found dead Saturday (3/7/09) of natural causes at his Tucson home. According to his Myspace page, he was 49. According to a message on Joe’s Facebook page from his surviving spouse. Donna, no services are planned. Joe was a certified emergency medical technician and firefighter who had a love for flat track roller derby. Bones recently traveled to Colorado Springs to participate in the Four Corner Feud tournament as an on-site medic.
Michelle Eyre of Michi-chan Rollersports Productions issued the following statement:
“The news of Joe’s death just prior to the bout was a complete shock to me and definitely had an impact on how I covered tonight’s bout for the Derby Love Tour. Joe has touched the lives of skaters of many leagues. Be it TRD, AZRD, Brats and even the beginnings of Dry Heat. His derby love shined bright. He came to the bouts for two reasons (1) because he loved watching some of America’s best skaters and (2) to fix those skaters if they became broken. I always looked forward to going to bouts because I would get a Michi-hug from Joe. You will sometimes hear me say “where’s Bones?’ Joe is one of the sweetest men in derby and he was definitely a part of our Arizona derby culture.
I commend Tucson Roller Derby for their handling of his untimely death and the method that the announcement was delivered by the league to skaters, staff, the derby media and the fans.
There will be many EMTs to come, but there will never be another Joe Bones. Sayonara tomodachi/Good bye my friend. Thank you for sharing the derby love with me.”
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March 8th, 2009 2:11 AM PST
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