The 5-foot-5, tattooed, gold chain-laden South Philadelphian was one hardworking multimillionaire.
A generous one, too. In death, the media (particularly print) gave him the accolades usually denied him in life.
He became a minor national celebrity, especially to conservatives, after the infamous "order in English" faux controversy. He was roasted by most local columnists and editorial writers because they are liberal and hated Joey's conservative messages.
Since he left school after the sixth grade, he was an imperfect messenger. Grammar often tripped him up like untied shoelaces, but people seemed to understand him anyway.
I went to Geno's yesterday - a warm, fine morning except for the sadness of the mission - to get some color for this column, and to pay my respects to Joey's widow, Eileen, and son, Geno.
In the interest of full disclosure, when a previous sponsor bailed last year, Joey wrote a check making Geno's Steaks the title sponsor of the Stu Bykofsky Candidates' Comedy Night. His money went to Variety, the charity the show supports, but I had been a Vento fan before that.
Although I don't share most of his political beliefs, and was more amused than convinced by his right-wing, Obama-bashing radio commercials, I was a fan because Joey was sincere and colorful, a man bursting with passion for what he thought was right. Sometimes far right. Tea parties loved him.
Lacking formal education, he had smarts, ambition and energy, becoming a multimillionaire off a single, South Philly sandwich shop. No wonder he loved America and free enterprise so much.
Joey's friend and political ally Dom Giordano, of WPHT (1210-AM), was broadcasting live from the tip of the sidewalk, facing cheesesteak archrival Pat's.
Giordano surmised that Joey had always supported police officers and police charities in part to atone for the criminal activities of his father and brother.
