Joseph Robert Meyers
Oct. 22, 1944-Oct. 12, 2023
Palo Alto, CA

Joseph Robert Meyers, aged 78, of Palo Alto, CA, died on Thursday October 12, 2023, with his family at his side.

Joe was born in Milwaukee, WI, in 1944, the fourth of seven children of Viola and Albert Meyers. He attended the Salvatorian seminary, St. Nazianz, through high school. It was these years of living in a community setting that helped mold Joe with a unique set of life skills and strong compassion and caring. Realizing as he began college that his path was in the outside world, Joe left the seminary for the academic world at University of Minnesota and graduation from University of Wisconsin.

The West Coast beckoned with his first job. Joe was a technical writer throughout his long career. He worked at many Silicon Valley companies including startups as well as giants Wells Fargo, Olivetti, Apple and Cisco. He wrote the first Apple II owner’s manual – a technical classic now in the Computer History Museum. Once in California, Joe also pursued graduate work in his great passion, mathematics, at San Jose State.

As a close friend remarked, “Joe was one of the few people in my life to show what happens when you let all the light in”. Joe was a joyous human and a Renaissance man. Joe loved words. Joe loved mathematics. He was a talented photographer. He was a man who lived with invention and the pursuit of knowledge. His was a questioning mind following his own piper. And yet …. he was deeply caring, inquisitive to know others, with a constant subtle wit.

Joe was always present for friends and those in need of a listener or counselor. He was a central figure for many years in his local MKP men’s group. He was a ready presence listening, advising, and cheering on his students and teacher cohort at Eastside.

Constantly on the move, Joe was an avid bicyclist, a dedicated swimmer, and a recreational hiker. Highlights in the outdoors were participating in the High Sierra Death Ride, and riding backup support for his son Ben’s SuperSlugs team at the annual MS Society Sonoma bicycling fundraisers.

He included music of all types into a rich social life. Joe loved potlucks and socials with other parents, concerts, his dance groups, making new friends and visiting old friends. His other foray into the arts was a talent for photography. Joe exhibited many of his works locally and shared his nature photography widely with friends.

After retirement, Joe jumped into a new passion as a math tutor, immediately being accepted as one of the family by the faculty and student community at Eastside College Preparatory. His enthusiasm for math, humor, thoughtfulness, and support for the students were hallmarks of his tutoring time at Eastside.

Family was illuminated at the forefront throughout Joe’s life. Joe, his wife Melissa and son Ben spent many happy times throughout the years travelling and living in Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the Americas. Joe and Ben were close companions, friends, and co-conspirators. They were never happier than when they were creating a better mousetrap, inventing, and problem solving. Joe was famous in the family for a combination of cooking skills, with a sharp focus on mealtime puns and silly humor as accompaniments to the food. (He was especially proud of winning an early Palo Alto chili cookoff award as proof of his culinary skills.)

Joe leaves his partner, best friend and wife, Melissa Biggs and dear son Benjamin Meyers. He is predeceased by parents Viola and Albert Meyers, sisters Barbara Meyers and Marylyn Deford. He is survived by his brother Steve and wife Mary; sister Madelene and husband Joel Smith; sisters Cecilia (Cece) Carrao and Kathleen Burghardt. He also leaves six nephews, five nieces and their families, brothers-in-law Mark Biggs and Glenn Biggs and their families; and many, many dear friends, community members and acquaintances.

During Joe’s life he faced the world with a smile, a deep intelligence, and a rare light.