Performers set for benefit to help musician Joe Mabee
TINICUM » “Something For Joe,” a benefit for local musician Joe Mabee, will take place at Romano’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant, Essington, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 12. The BYOB event will include over 25 musical performers throughout the day and evening, non-alcoholic beverages, and a buffet. All proceeds will go to Joe Mabee and his family to help with overwhelming medical expenses and his recent unexpected loss of income.
Mabee is one of those guys who always seemed to be helping others through his gift of music. After leaving his jobs of building ships at Kverna at the Philadelphia Navy Yard in 1999 and autocad drafting at Genesis in 2003, the musician followed his passion and began a second career as a full-time musician, performing at ten or more venues each week. In recent years, some of his favorite gigs were at local nursing homes, hospitals and rehab facilities. Ironically, this past spring, in a cruel twist of fate, Mabee found himself as a patient, rather than a performer, at Bryn Mawr Rehab.
“The rug was literally pulled out from underneath us on May 18,” explained his wife, Jennifer “Jennie” Mabee.
After several days with a headache that he couldn’t seem to shake, Mabee was rushed to the emergency room that day with symptoms that were first thought to be a stroke. After a biopsy of his brain, six abscesses were found. Mabee required three separate brain surgeries, two within three days of each other. Mabee was transferred from Paoli Hospital to the brain trauma unit of Bryn Mawr Rehab and then to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, after having a relapse with infection in June. He finally arrived home last week after over two months away. The road ahead is a long one. Mabee must continue with an aggressive course of intravenous antibiotics, as well as intense therapy, all the while hoping that the abscesses do not return. He’s plagued by memory loss, confusion and impulsivity. He can’t drive, sing, or play guitar which all affect his livelihood.
In a “when it rains” situation, Jennifer had to leave her job as a market researcher to be a fulltime caregiver for Joe. Even with continued family support and a wide circle of friends, the family is still struggling with staggering medical expenses and the lost income. Although they have insurance under Obamacare, Jennifer said the deductibles “are obscene.” Family members include son Brody, 24, and Julian, 12, a student at Fugett Middle School in West Chester.
When Joe’s recent devastating illness hit, the couple was still paying off bills from when Joe was hospitalized in February with pneumonia. “It’s been such a bad year for Joe,” Jennifer said last week. “We are just so happy and grateful that he survived all of this. Joe has had such an upbeat, positive attitude all along and a tremendous amount of support and prayers from family, friends and neighbors and I know that really helped him. We now realize that every day is a blessing.”
The couple, who will be married 15 years this September, met at an open mic night at Old State Tavern in Upper Providence, where Joe was playing guitar and Jennifer was singing. Joe graduated Interboro High School, Class of 1974. Jennifer Mayo Mabee is a graduate of Cardinal O’Hara, Class of 1984 and Widener University, Class of 1988. Joe and Jennifer, who lived in Ridley Park for eight years before moving to West Chester in 2008, continue to hold personal and professional ties to Delaware County.
“I was lucky enough to grow up in Delaware County and do most of my performing there,” Joe smiled. “The people of Delco are some of the best in the world.”
Joe entertained with his acoustic guitar at the Tavern at Burke’s Bend in Ridley Park for seven years, at the Coffee Station in Morton on Sunday mornings and at Pogue Mahone’s in Prospect Park. He played guitar in the band Flashback at the Coach House in Claymont, Del., for 13 years. He also regularly performed at Harlee Manor, Prospect Park, Connor Williams and the Belvedere nursing homes. Joe’s mom, Charlene, was well-known because she was a waitress at Preston’s Diner in Tinicum for many years. The couple said most of their friends and family members still reside in Delaware County. One of those dear friends is Pete Romano, Interboro Class of 1972.
Friends since their high school days, Romano would sometimes sing and play with Mabee at Burke’s Bend. Joe played cupid, and introduced Romano to his wife Linda whom he married in 2008. Joe sang at their wedding.
When Romano found out that his good friend was struggling with health and financial woes, he immediately set the wheels in motion for a benefit to be held at his restaurant, Romano’s Pizzeria and Italian Restaurant in Essington.
“Something For Joe,” a daylong musical benefit, will take place inside and outside of the restaurant. Tinicum commissioners have granted permission for Romano to place tables, chairs and umbrellas on the sidewalks surrounding the restaurant. The event will also include raffle drawings on assorted gift baskets and other items. Some of the musical acts in the event’s lineup who are onboard so far include Rob Bolan, Pam Spicer, Max and Denise Collins, Joe Kozak and Dan Traynor, Kevin Brown and Dave Crum, Greg Troiano, Rita Miller and Tammy Alfieri, Earl and Mark Arnold, and Bill and Penny Sweezy.
Pete’s family jumped in to help make the event happen. Daughter Lauren Romano Harrell printed tickets. Wife Linda and sister Denise Romano Collins are organizing the music.
“We would love people to come out to support Joe and his family at this benefit event, and to help him while he’s on the road to recovery,” Pete Romano remarked. “We’ll have music and food inside and out and 100 percent of the proceeds will help Joe through this difficult time. People who can’t attend, are welcome to make a donation.”
Before the benefit plans were set into motion, Jennifer’s sister Rosalind Mayo started a YouCaring page where people can read more about Joe and his fight of a lifetime and make monetary donations to help the family. Donations are accepted through PayPal at https://goo.gl/mV3GpU.
Tickets for the Aug. 12 event cost $20 in advance and $25 at the door. Children under 12 can attend the family-friendly event, free of charge. To purchase tickets in advance, call Romano’s at 610521-9010, e-mail somethingforjoeevent@gmail.com or stop by Romano’s at 246 Wanamaker Ave., Essington. Prepaid tickets can be picked up on the day of the event.
“We have been completely overwhelmed and touched by the concern and support that we have received from our families, our friends and our community,” Jennie stated. “Joe has been surrounded by so many caring and compassionate friends. This outpouring of love and support has helped to keep our family strong. I know we can weather this crisis.”