Letter: Delaney will be remembered for many reasons

Thursday, Aug. 15, 2002 | 8:45 a.m.

My friend, Joe Delaney, passed away Aug. 7.

He was more than a friend, really. He possessed the highest qualification for a man: he was human. As a show producer, columnist, teacher and mentor to many, Joe could show both an irascible side and a remarkable ability to be provocative.

There was always an Irish twinkle in his eye, whether he was scolding a class, suggesting changes that artists could make in their performance, or talking about the people near and dear to him.

In the mid-1970s, disappointed with graduate school, I asked Joe if he thought an entertainment lawyer could make a living in Las Vegas. Joe not only said yes, but encouraged me to pursue a legal education.

Years later, after law school and the beginning of an intellectual property and entertainment practice, Joe invited me to lecture in his classes and reciprocated when I began teaching my own classes. Joe never said no to being an expert witness or taking the time to share stories about Las Vegas with his students and mine.

He loved life. He loved his family. He loved Ireland. And, we all loved him. We'll miss you, Joe. We'll never forget you.

MARK TRATOS

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