Obituary of Joel Ignatius Buchholtz

Joel I. Buchholtz went with his Lord and Savior on Friday morning, November 22.  He was with Hospice caregivers at Bethel Health Care in Bethel, CT. He was born in Bayonne, NJ to Margaret (Opel) and Ignatius Matthew Buchholtz. His parents and sister, Johanna, predeceased him.  Surviving him are his sister, Nancy and her husband Kenneth Carlson who live in Danbury, CT.  Also surviving are his devoted nieces, Jodi Haklay, Cheryl Hallock and Amy Tedrick.  He enjoyed their six children and was a part of many family gatherings and vacations.

Joel was devoted to his parents who encouraged a life of education, both as a student and teacher.  He held two Masters of Science, one from Long Island University and the other from Jersey City University.

He became a Physician’s Assistant in 1973 and worked in the US Public Health Service Hospital on Staten Island.  He also practiced at the Hospital for Joint Disease, NYC and Staten Island University Hospital.  He was an Associate Professor at the PA school at Miami-Dade Community College.  He was also an Adjunct Professor at LIU, St Peter’s University and Hudson County Community College.

He was the first paramedic in Bayonne and was one of the founders of the McCabe Ambulance Service, which established professional emergency service for the community. He taught and supervised new EMS employees. He was involved in teaching CPR and ALS to paramedics at Jersey City Medical Center.

He was a proud member of the Bayonne Fire Department from 1970-1983.

He was a highly rated Black Belt in Karate and owned and operated the Martial Arts School of Hudson County.  He was well known in the Martial Arts Community for many years.

He was a 32^nd Degree Mason in the Peninsular Lodge # 99 in Bayonne. He remembered many friends there.

Joel had cherished friendships with Mickey and Judy McCabe, John Malecky and Carl Paczkowski, both Retired Battalion Chiefs of the BFD. He befriended and cared for John Pettrow since he was 11 years old. His friend, John Zasowski, M.D. provided personal care for him for many years until he was hospitalized.

He was a Communicant Member of Trinity Episcopal Church in Bayonne where he developed a close friendship with Father Greg Perez and others in church.  Services will be at Trinity on Saturday November 30 at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.org or the Windmill Alliance, Highways (The Food Pantry), 141 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002.