Joseph P Dominguez Jr.

Joseph P. Dominguez Jr.

peacefully transitioned from this world on Friday, April 28, 2023, to the music of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” It was a bittersweet death to his courageous 13 years of living under the shadow of Parkinson’s Disease.

Joseph was born in Tampa, Florida, and moved to metro Atlanta to attend Oxford College of Emory University. From Oxford, Joe was accepted into The Emory University School of Dentistry. In 1986, Joseph met the love of his life Jeff Burkholder. Joe and Jeff loved each unconditionally. They had 37 years of being each other’s chosen family, best friends, and soul mates.

Joseph’s spiritual hunger called him to become a Religious Science Minister, serving as the Staff Minister for the Atlanta Church of Religious Science. A cherished collection of his talks are preserved on cassettes and have been digitized to share. In Joseph’s early wisdom, he said tough times come so that we will be drawn closer to God. In recent times, Joseph shared with those closest to him that he had come to peace with God.

Joseph lived life fully and accomplished much. He was a talented fine artist and traveler, often combining the two. He loved music, art, theater, and poetry, especially Mary Oliver’s poems. He loved the outdoors, from the North Carolina mountains to the Florida beaches. He loved his pets; Cookie, Teddy, Ray, Sophie, Tinker, Vivie, and Pixel. But most of all, Joseph loved his wide circle of friends. Even during his struggle with Parkinson’s, Joe continued to express concern and offered a listening heart to those around him.

He was uniquely Joseph, marching to his drummer, his beat. Affectionately known as Joe, Joseph, Giuseppe, Mr. Joe, Reverend Joseph P Dominguez, Uncle Joe, Dr. Joe, Jo Jo, Daddy, and Honey; he was patient, kind, quick-witted, intelligent, unconditionally loving, irreverently funny, creatively gifted, loyal, grounded, realistic, grateful, appreciative, generous, artistic, imaginative, intuitive, humble, passionate, and philosophical.

Joe was a visionary, an inspiration, and a seeker of universal truth and risen consciousness. He enjoyed connecting with people and was quite the matchmaker. He wanted to consider problems through multiple perspectives and generate various solutions. Yet he gave those he loved the grace and dignity to find their answers. He was accountable for his choices and had the humility to change his mind. With the news of his death, many have shared how special Joe made them feel and what a difference he made in their lives.

Joe created genuine and lasting friendships and entered the most challenging stage of his life, surrounded by a team that was there to care for and love him. Jeff and his family are forever grateful for the blessings of Dick Hooker, Josette Edmondson, Anne Hartridge, and Martha Slattery, adoring life-long inner-circle friends. Caregivers Tywanda McCoy, Cordarius Bush, Tracey Stokes, and many other caregivers; all provided excellent care, comfort, and companionship. Michelle McPherson, a dear friend who loved Joseph and cared for his home as her own. Kendall Crye and Robin Andrews Smith guided Joe, Jeff, and the caregivers through late-stage Parkinson’s. Safe Haven Personal Care Home staff provided a beautiful space for Joseph’s last days.

Joseph’s family is grateful they could spend a weekend with him a few weeks before his passing. It was a special gift of time where Joseph was present to be lifted in prayer and reassured of the love that surrounds him.

Joseph is survived by his loving partner of 37 years, Robert Jeffrey Burkholder; brother, Gilmore Dominguez (Janet Spence); two nephews, Gilly Dominguez (Jill) and J.C. Dominguez (Jennifer); four grandnephews, Cole, Grant, Trent, and Reid.

He is preceded in death by his loving parents, Joe Dominguez Sr., Rose Greco Dominguez, and many aunts and uncles.

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My beloved, Joe.

I met Joe at an aerobics class in October of 1986. The first thing he said to me was, “Nice legs.” Immediately, I was fascinated. That led to a date on Sunday, October 19, 1986. It wasn’t a regular run-of-the-mill date. It was an event; we spent the entire day together. Since that day, we have been in a continuous 37-year loving relationship; our spirits have co-created into something bigger than we could have imagined.

Since Joe died, my brain has been flooded with memories and conversations, things he said to me that I will never forget! I want to share two more amazing things Joe said, but we must jump ahead 37-plus years.

“I want Jeff to be happy,” Joe said this three times when I walked into his room on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. He had said this “prayer” to me for years, but I think that was the first time I understood the life-changing gift he was giving me.

Jump ahead 24 hours to Thursday, April 27; I was saying my goodbyes to Joe and Tywanda (Joe’s excellent caregiver). Joe said, “See you tomorrow, baby.” He never called me baby before, but I liked it. I said, “See you tomorrow, honey,” followed by a kiss. I pivoted and left to taxi the dogs home.

TO RECAP: He first said to me, “Nice legs.” And, the last: “See you tomorrow, baby.”

Reverend and Dr. Joseph P Dominguez left this 3-D world on Friday morning, April 26, 2023, at 10:25 am, to the song “Somewhere Over The Rainbow.”

Joe was held, kissed, touched, sung to, washed, massaged, fanned, and prayed over by me, his adoring life partner. Those also present for this most sacred event were Robin Andrews Smith and Kendall Cyre. I am forever changed by what I experienced as Joe’s soul left his body. I am not surprised, considering his supernatural magnificence and spiritual depth. I was relieved Joe’s essence was free from his courageous, hopeful journey with Parkinson’s.

Joe was a keeper, unique, intelligent, intuitive, wise beyond his years, a light worker, a magician, a matchmaker, a project director/micro-manager extraordinary, and a visionary grounded in humility, gratitude, and eternal truth.

I cry/sob/feel the painful grief every day. After a while, I get up and do the next thing before me, regardless of how I feel. I realize the best way to honor Joe’s wishes is to live the rest of my days honoring his prayer – smile, laugh, look for beauty, and live with gratitude and an open heart. I believe Joe wants all his family and friends to be happy.

I miss Joe every day. I don’t think that will ever change.

All my love, Jeff