TONY JOSEPH
(1946-1986)
Tony Joseph was a gifted astrologer and therapist from the San Francisco area who was lost to our field at the age of 39, one of our casualties of the AIDS epidemic. There is a quilt panel for him on the national AIDS Quilt Memorial.
Tony contributed on the organizational level, serving as Executive Director of the National Council for Geocosmic Research in 1979. He had a strong interest in mythology. If anyone remembers more about Tony or his writings, please add to this sparse memorial.
BIRTH AND DEATH DATA: AstroDatabank cites the following, given by him to Lois Rodden in 1980. He was born on December 7, 1946, at 12:35 AM, in Cleveland, OH, 81W41; 41N30. AstroDatabank says he died of AIDS on June 5, 1986, at 3:00 PM, in San Francisco, CA.
His Sun and Mars were in Sagittarius opposite Uranus in Gemini on his Midheaven. The earth element was supplied by a Taurus Moon trining his Virgo Ascendant.
In June, 2000, Bill Meridian recalls:
"When Tony was in NY, he would stay at my place. When I was in SF, I stayed with him. He knew a great deal about the link between astrology and mythology. I learned more about the asteroids from him than from anyone except Eleanor Bach. He also was very knowlegeable about the link between astro and psychology. Tony was an unending source of knowledge about these two areas. I will always miss him. Especially because we both loved to spend hours playing board games and rolling dice."
"Tony was my introduction to astrology in 1974 through a one-day class in Cambridge, MA. His reading of my natal chart was with such accuracy and enthusiasm, that I was immediately inspired to become a student of astrology. While I never took this to a professional level, I have used his concepts repeatedly with friends and clients in my psychotherapy practice. I especially am influenced by Tony's work with transiting Saturn in the natal chart, which was so convincing in his instruction. I referred so many clients to Tony in the mid-seventies that he gave me free readings. He had such a zest for life and love for his profession! I am so sad to hear Tony has not been here to teach for so many years for so many potential students never experienced the spirited way this man taught."
"There were many famous astrologers at a seminar held in Marin County in 1981. It was the first time for me to attend such an event focusing on astrology and I was there because Maya Del Mar gave me her $75 ticket (she had to respond to something else). It was a mind expanding event for me and two astrologers made a deep impression on me, Tony Joseph and Robert Hand.
"Tony Joseph was sophisticated and intellectual. His manner was refined and collegiate. His lecture was a picture of Greek Mythology/Astrology that I remember thinking, "OF COURSE!!!" The Greeks saw the gods lying about the heavens amusing themselves in their rulership of earthly matters. They themselves were governed by laws. He chose to talk about the story of Persephone and he went into great detail involving her mother, Pluto and the three faces of the moon. We humans act out these classic dramas over and over again, and I wanted to know more, the way he told it.
"I've always hoped to find a book written by Tony Joseph and this morning I
did a Google search by simply typing in his name. I'm sorry to hear of his
death but I'm not surprised, it's what I'd feared. If he were living he
would be famous, world famous. Such a shame for our loss."
Barrie Higgins, Saint Augustine, Florida
NOTE: Tony has three blocks on the real AIDS quilt, #819, #1625, and #0255. Number 819 appears to have his chart embroidered on it. To see it, visit www.aidsquilt.org.
An Astrology AIDS Quilt
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CREDITS: Biographical information for this memorial is from AstroDatabank. The photo is from Lois Rodden's collection. The background came from a stunning collection at Eos Development. This memorial was created by Donna Cunningham.