Joseph DeMarco, Executive Vice President of Business Affairs for Fox Searchlight Pictures, and one of my first bosses when I started at Fox 13 years ago, passed away this morning at 3am during emergency abdominal surgery. He arrested during the administration of anesthesia. Or so they tell me.
He was three days past his 48th birthday.
He was a friend, an agitator, a supporter, a fan of my writing, and, at times, a big huge pain my butt. But, first, he was a friend. In a chance meeting in the Commissary Cafe, when I told him I was leaving Fox to pursue writing, his response, in his typical Jersey boy growl*, was, "It's about time. What took you so long?" Then he hugged me, wished me luck and told me he knew I'd do well. Immediately thereafter, he went out on sick leave, and I wasn't able to see him again before I left. I'm so grateful for that last fortuitous meeting now.
Searchlight will not be the same without him.
Rest in peace, Joey.
Prayers and healing thoughts to his wife, his brothers and sister, his neice and nephew and the rest of his friends and family.
~C~
*Okay, he was from Seaside, not Newark. But still... Jersey is Jersey, right?
Just discovered this news. Joe was my very first boss in the entertainment business. I temped for him at Fox Business Affairs for several weeks and when his assistant returned, he personally helped get me a permanent gig working for a new VP who was just coming in. Was such a good guy to me. At the end of the work day, he'd invite me into his office and ask about my professional goals, my family, etc. I was just a kid fresh to Los Angeles. I still think about him a lot. Very sorry to hear it.
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