Joel (Joseph L.) Navari, I very much regret to say, passed away in a hospital near his Peoria AZ home at 12:31 p.m. April 18, 2010, less than 24 hours after he was admitted.
Here is the death notice that appeared in The Arizona Republic:
Navari, Joseph "Joel," 66, of Peoria made his transition on April 18, 2010.
He was a husband, father, brother, grandfather, educator and patriot who lived life with passion. He is survived by his wife, Tami Conaway, two sons, Jude Navari, Jason (Amy) Navari; two daughters Johanna (John) Welch, Jocelyn (Tom) Messer; a step-daughter Amy (Duane) Cowan and a step-son Chad Conaway. Also surviving are a brother, Rudy (Jane) Navari ; a sister, Elenora (Joe) Buba; nine grandchildren, Zane, Renata, Isabella, Marlee, Brooke, Cody, Ryley, Tanner and Braden.
A celebration of Joel's life (was) held Saturday, April 24, 2010, at 3 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Chapel, 6830 W. Thunderbird Road, Peoria.
The family requests, in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to Indiana University School of Medicine South Bend - Cancer Research, 1234 Notre Dame Avenue, South Bend, IN 46617.
Morton Stanfield
We all remember the Joel and the Eastwood theater. Here is some information that you may have forgotten.
The Eastwood was an unusually nice, family-operated theater on the border of urban and suburban Pittsburgh. It played early-neighborhood-run movies, usually in double bills ("Charade" and "Lilies of the Field"), usually with two changes the week. It was owned and operated throughout its existence by the Navari family of Penn Hills. Rudy, the patriarch, maintained it very well with the help of his wife, son Rudy, daughter Norina and especially eldest son Joel (Joseph L.). Joel took over more and more of the theater's operation during his college years in the early 1960s and booked several move-over art films as well as the highest quality commercial releases. No junk at all. Unfortunately, by the late 1960s, it was trapped in a neighborhood that was succumbing to crime, which began to impact on the audience the Eastwood served. Even the nearby East Hills strip mall succumbed. The Eastwood's final movie before closing in 1969 was "Krakatoa, East of Java."
The last time the Eastwood Theatre was mentioned as far as I can determine was in the issue of February 2, 1970. It's an item saying that the Eastwood was being demolished. It says that Mrs. Rudy Navari had been robbed at the theater and decided not only to close it but to have the building razed.
posted by Joe Vogel on Apr 14, 2010 at 12:55am
Barbara Thompson (Matthews)
You know, Mort, the Eastwood theater was exactly my thought when I read of Joel's passing. I had a lot of good conversations with Joel during those school years as we rode the same bus often.
Linda Dasta (Ciccarelli)
Joel lived across the street from me on Verona Road. Our families were friends and he was my 8th grade "boyfriend" at St. Joseph School. I think of him today, May 29th, his birthday.
Yvonne Hefferle (Cadwallader)
Like Linda Dasta Ciccarelli, I too lived up near Verona Rd. and went to St. Joseph's with Joel.
I remember our "record club," a group of teens who would meet in each others' homes to play the latest Little Anthony etc. songs!
I am very saddened to hear of Joel's passing.
Paul Schofield
Joel was a good freind in St Joe's, PHS and for a while after. We shared an interest in girls, movies, and cars. We had a lot of good times. When joel was wound up he could captivate a whole table, carrying several comversations at one time. We did a lot of double and triple dates. Those are some great memories!
I lost contant while on active duty in the Navy. Paul Schofield