RIP Jersey Joe

David in FL

David in FL

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Jersey Joe Contessa left us today. A player from the old school that I’m sure many here have crossed paths with over the years

Although he spent most of his life up east, like many, he eventually found his way down to the warmer climes here in Central Florida.

A gentle soul who, in his 80’s, still hit thousands of balls each and every day, never met a prop bet that he didn’t love, played three card monte like a gypsy, and played 14.1 one-handed better than most played with two.

He was my friend, and he‘ll be missed.

Rest in peace Joe.
 
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Sorry you lost your friend. Unfortunately the pool world is losing the people like Joe Contessa at a rapid rate if they aren't already gone. The old pool warriors are a lot like the cowboys of the west. Slipping into legend and soon they will be no more.

Hu
 
David in FL said:
Jersey Joe Contessa left us today. A player from the old school that I’m sure many here have crossed paths with over the years

Although he spent most of his life up east, like many, he eventually found his way down to the warmer climes here in Central Florida.

A gentle soul who, in his 80’s, still hit thousands of balls each and every day, never met a prop bet that he didn’t love, played three card monte like a gypsy, and played 14.1 one-handed better than most played with two.

He was my friend, and he‘ll be missed.

Rest in peace Joe.
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Sorry... losing friends sucks.
 
He will be missed here in Central Florida, he knew every pool player from Florida to New Jersey, and had a great memory. We always swapped
stories about the old days when we would meet at Clicks and Racks.
 
David in FL said:
Jersey Joe Contessa left us today. A player from the old school that I’m sure many here have crossed paths with over the years

Although he spent most of his life up east, like many, he eventually found his way down to the warmer climes here in Central Florida.

A gentle soul who, in his 80’s, still hit thousands of balls each and every day, never met a prop bet that he didn’t love, played three card monte like a gypsy, and played 14.1 one-handed better than most played with two.

He was my friend, and he‘ll be missed.

Rest in peace Joe.
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My condolences to you and his family 🙏
 
condolences to you on the loss of your friend and condolences to his loved ones
R.I.P. Joe
 
RIP- sorry you lost your friend.
I'm from the Jersey pool scene from '61 to '91 and while I dont recall him we might have crossed paths.
 
I just joined this forum after I saw this. I have a story about Joe. I knew Joe when I lived in Winter Park, Florida in 1990 or 1991 before joining the military to go to the Gulf war.

I was 20 at the time and played with a Wayne Gunn sneaky pete which had a micarta ferrule (if anyone has one for sale, let me know). Anyway, I started playing at the pool hall named Clicks (may have been named something else back then) off Howell Branch Rd and Highway 436. There were a bunch of older gentlemen that used to play straight pool and some 9 ball.

One of the days I played this guy named Dennis and had him down $400 after 3 races to 10 for $100. He wanted double or nothing again and I told him I need to see the money. He did not have it so I said give me the $400 and I would meet him the next day to continue. He said he did not even have the $400 and that he would go get it and bring it the next day. I said he has to give me his cue (it was an old Meucci original M-07) and I would give it back the next day when he gives me the money.

I went there everyday for the next 3 weeks and Dennis never showed up (he had been there all day everyday for the 6 month I was there previous).

Joe asked me one day how much he owed me and I told him $400. He told me Dennis was embarrassed to come back and Joe gave me $500. I told Joe he was doing a "stand up" thing for Dennis so I only took $100 and gave Joe the stick so he could give it back to Dennis, soon after is when I joined the military.

Played against Joe a few times spotting him the 5 and he beat me a couple times ONE HANDED! Joe was a great guy, he loved Elvis!

Gonna be missed by everyone that knew him! I have seen him make his famous one handed shot with cue ball on the rail and the other ball on the rail in the middle on the diamond.

Soft spoken humble guy.

RIP Jersey Joe!
 
Truthseeker123 said:
I just joined this forum after I saw this. I have a story about Joe. I knew Joe when I lived in Winter Park, Florida in 1990 or 1991 before joining the military to go to the Gulf war.

I was 20 at the time and played with a Wayne Gunn sneaky pete which had a micarta ferrule (if anyone has one for sale, let me know). Anyway, I started playing at the pool hall named Clicks (may have been named something else back then) off Howell Branch Rd and Highway 436. There were a bunch of older gentlemen that used to play straight pool and some 9 ball.

One of the days I played this guy named Dennis and had him down $400 after 3 races to 10 for $100. He wanted double or nothing again and I told him I need to see the money. He did not have it so I said give me the $400 and I would meet him the next day to continue. He said he did not even have the $400 and that he would go get it and bring it the next day. I said he has to give me his cue (it was an old Meucci original M-07) and I would give it back the next day when he gives me the money.

I went there everyday for the next 3 weeks and Dennis never showed up (he had been there all day everyday for the 6 month I was there previous).

Joe asked me one day how much he owed me and I told him $400. He told me Dennis was embarrassed to come back and Joe gave me $500. I told Joe he was doing a "stand up" thing for Dennis so I only took $100 and gave Joe the stick so he could give it back to Dennis, soon after is when I joined the military.

Played against Joe a few times spotting him the 5 and he beat me a couple times ONE HANDED! Joe was a great guy, he loved Elvis!

Gonna be missed by everyone that knew him! I have seen him make his famous one handed shot with cue ball on the rail and the other ball on the rail in the middle on the diamond.

Soft spoken humble guy.

RIP Jersey Joe!
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Yep.

For those who don't understand...

Joe would place an object ball frozen to the center of the foot rail.

He would then place the cue ball on top of the head rail, also at the center.

He would then shoot one handed and cut the object ball directly into the left, bottom corner pocket.

He was able to do it with disturbing regularity.


And yeah, it was Clicks back then, and still is. 👍
 
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