Craig Chivatero
I’ve known Joe Markette for many years primarily through our mutual interest in old clocks and mechanical watches. Joe was always very generous with his time and knowledge - he was skilled in repairing clocks and pocket watches and got me started in the hobby (giving me many of the tools that I still use today).
Most months we would meet for lunch at the Peking Garden restaurant with a couple of other “watch guys”. The waitresses knew him by name and knew which table he preferred. It was very hard to buy him lunch - he almost always insisted on picking up the tab for the table.
He served in the US Army in the 1950’s and was very proud of his service. He told some great stories from those days. I heard some of them one Memorial Day when I was at breakfast with him and several of his veteran buddies. He had invited me to join them for the free meal that was typically offered to vets on that day. As the meal ended and the waitress was discussing the check, I reached for my wallet but Joe insisted that I (the only non-vet at the table) was one of them and that all our meals should be free. I was conflicted, not wanting to contradict him but not wanting to pretend that I had served. Joe was having none of it, even though I was clearly 30 years younger than anyone else at the table. Joe was not going to be denied and the waitress was very gracious about it - my breakfast was free. But I did tip the value of my meal when Joe wasn’t looking. I’m still glad he didn’t notice that.
Joe had many careers over the years; he spoke to me of his time working as a draftsman at a company that built mechanical calculators/adding machines, and as a barber (he had a shop in Oakland). I think he most liked the time he spent barbering - Joe loved to talk to people and the barbershop was perfect for that.
He was as generous a person as I have known. He is certainly missed. May he rest in peace.
