Joe Cheverez
Joe Cheverez passed away peacefully, with a beautiful smile on his face, at 11 p.m. on Sunday, December 8, 2024. He was in home-based hospice care for the last week and a half of his life. He passed from late stage Parkinson’s Disease.
Joe was born and raised in Santa Barbara, the 5th child of Lucas and Tomasa (Sosa) Cheverez. His siblings include sisters Mary Morales, and Antonia Ramos (deceased January 2024); and brothers Benjamin, and Manuel (deceased March 2017) and Henry (deceased September 2023).
Joe’s athletic ability revealed itself at an early age. He was especially prolific at performing the long jump in track and field. He held long jump records at Santa Barbara High School and Santa Barbara City College, as well as in the military (Army) with a 25.2 ft. long jump in the 1963 European Championship games.
In the summer of 1968, Joe began private opera voice training with Santa Barbara’s Dr. Norman Soreng Wright. Santa Barbara Opera Diva, Patricia Brinton-Becirovic, was invited to hear Joe sing. She was so impressed that she provided a full summer scholarship for him at the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Joe remained in Europe for one year (1971), singing at opera houses throughout Europe. He continued singing through the 70’s and 80’s, including a performance at the Dallas Opera House where he was on stage with Pavarotti. Upon his return to Santa Barbara, Joe did further vocal training with famed French baritone opera singer, Martial Singher, at the Music Academy of the West. Much to the dismay of his vocal teachers, Joe ultimately decided that a full-time opera career was not his preference. He continued to do periodic performances in Santa Barbara, with his beautiful, soaring tenor voice. For many years after he discontinued singing, people would beg him to sing Ave Maria “just one more time” because of the impact his voice had on their hearts.
Being multi-talented, Joe turned to a new career in the 1980’s with a successful 30 year custom tile and design business. His beautiful custom tile work can be seen in many Santa Barbara homes and establishments.
Beyond all of his talent and accomplishments, it is the beauty of Joe’s spirit that continues to resonate the most. I had the privilege of being Joe’s life partner for the last 21 years. We shared a very deep and special love. Soul Mates for sure. I am so honored to have provided loving care to this precious being as he suffered the end stages of his condition; and to be holding his hand at the end. I am grateful for the memories we created together in the earlier years. Joe is forever in my heart, and in the hearts of his family who love him so much. Joe will be greatly missed by me, Linda Amicarelli (his life partner), and by his son, Greg Cheverez, his sister, Mary Morales, his brother Ben Cheverez (Margaret), and all of his special nieces and nephews, and all of the other family members, who hold him close in their hearts. Joe will also be missed by his many long-time friends with whom he shared special times.
The family would like to thank the wonderful staff at Assisted Hospice of Santa Barbara (especially nurse Leslie Gomes) for their services. At Joe’s request, there will be no memorial service. For those who wish to make a donation in Joe’s honor, we would suggest Assisted Hospice of Santa Barbara, or the Boys and Girls Club of Santa Barbara, where Joe spent many days as a young boy.