Joseph Gannon's Obituary
You can't talk about Joe Gannon without talking about how big he was. He’s inseparable
from his big laugh, big stories, bright clothes & eyewear, wet kisses, and his deep love for
friends, kids, and the biggest love of all, his partner in everything, his wife Beverly.
Joe liked to tell his kids, “If you are going to be a plumber, be the best f-ing plumber you
can be.” They were 8, 10, 13, & 15 years old respectively. While none of them were considering
potential career paths at the time, the message was clear; it doesn't matter what you do, as long
as you do it with passion.
So it should surprise no one that a scrappy South Philly kid talked his way onto a stage
to perform with The Kingston Quartet despite not really being able to play the stand-up bass.
His days as a musician were short, but that started a long career in the music business—Band
Manager, Stage Manager, Road Manager, and Lighting Designer where he shined. It is hard to
imagine a time when Rock and Roll Concerts were not spectacles with outrageous lights and
stage pieces, pyrotechnics and theatrics. But it was the creatives in the 70’s, like Joe Gannon,
who were the cutting-edge innovators. The entire list of artists he worked with is too long so
here are the highlights:
Kingston Trio—Herb Albert and the Tijuana Brass—Jack Benny-–Smothers
Brothers—Neil Diamond—Alice Cooper—Kiss—Liza Minelli—Kansas—Linda Rondstat—Earth,
Wind & Fire—Teddy Pendergrass—Blondie—Luther Vandross—Barry Manilow—Julio Iglesias,
to name a few.
Joe met his future wife Bev in 1973, 7 years before they started dating, when Bev was
Liza Minnelli’s Road Manager, and Joe was Liza’s Production Manager on her “Liza With a Z”
Tour. After meeting Joe, Bev remembers saying, “that guy is crazy !” When they ran into each
other 7 years later, Joe was crazy as ever, but the attraction was overwhelming and Joe and
Bev fell in love and left Hollywood for the quiet life on Maui. But where Joe and Bev go, big
things happen. So when they decided to open a gourmet take-out food shop in an old pineapple
company store, Haliimaile General Store was born and it quickly became a full service
restaurant with the best food on Maui. A James Beard nomination later they opened Joe’s Bar
& Grill, and Gannon’s. Joe would tell you his greatest attribute was his ability to spotlight talent,
and in this case the talent was Bev, who helped pioneer a new culinary category Hawai’i
Regional Cuisine (HRC Chefs). Joe, a dedicated gourmand and everyone’s favorite
front-of-house man, made you feel at home. It was the combination of his unique aloha spirit
and her delicious food that made visiting their restaurants the homecoming you didn’t even
know you needed.
Joe has either literally traveled the world with many of you, or figuratively taken you on a
trip with him through his stories. Just know this; if he ever told you, “I never liked you anyway,”
or, “you are the worst personal person,“ then Joe has told you I love you, and he did, he truly
loved you.
*Joe Gannon is survived by his wife Beverly, his children Cathy, Cheech, and Jana,
grandsons Tyler, Will, and Joe, Sons-in-law Chris, Jeff, and Brandt. Patrick, son, (deceased Oct.
22).
Joe’s last hurrah will be held in the fall 2024. In lieu of flowers please donate to Hospice
Maui, or Boys & Girls Clubs of Maui.
The check is in the mail...
What’s your fondest memory of Joseph?
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