Joseph (Joe) A Paluzzi, a long-time Brookline Bird Club member, trip leader, Board member and Past President, and good friend to many in the birding community, passed away on April 25, 2023. Joe was known to many as Bank Swallow, the handle he chose when the BBC was using CB radios to communicate in the field, as well as his email address. The origination/connection of this is unknown.
Joe enjoyed birding in comfort, always sporting a big, long, and usually fast car both at home and on out- of-state birding trips. His pride and joy was his most recent Mercedes SUV. Joe loved a good chase and often volunteered to be the ‘uber’ for said chases!!
Besides birding, Joe had many other interests and accomplishments. He was a champion scrabble player, crackerjack poker player with his pals at the Swampscott senior center, reveled in a daily wordle group he participated in, and always had a police radio going at home (there were no local secrets from Joe!). As well Joe was an avid Boston sports fan along with his love for NCAA basketball. He organized and orchestrated a March Madness pool for many years, providing an entertaining commentary after every round of play. He was warmly known as ‘The Commish’ in this role.
His wife Helen was the love of his life, though his granddaughter Hannah was the apple of his eye!
His easy-going personality, generous spirit and wonderful smile will be missed.