92, passed away Thursday, September 13, 2012 at the Gardiner Hospice home, the home he and his wife Mary Ann originally built on the corner of 15th Avenue and Myrtle in 1956. Born April 25, 1920 in East Orange, New Jersey to Chester Barnes Voorhees and Emma Lord, he moved to Arizona at the age of 4. He attended Fair Hope School, Phoenix Union High School Class of 1938, Phoenix College, Arizona State University and graduated Dental School from the University of Southern California….he remained a life long Trojan fan! He served our country as a Captain in the Army, 18 year board chair and member of the Orme Ranch School Board, 14 year member of the Glendale Union High School Board, member of the Arizona Historical Society, and the Heard Museum, past president and 8 year member of the Arizona Intercollegiate Association, Optimists, member and past president of the Valley Field Riding and Polo Club, past member of the Phoenix Country Club, and past president and member of the Iron Springs Outing Club, where he holds the record of being the oldest man on Top Rock! A life long supporter of education, Joe practiced dentistry in Phoenix for 56 years. Retiring at the age of 79, he did volunteer dentistry for St. Vincent de Paul Dental clinic. Many happy times were spent with family and friends camping on the beaches of Mexico, digging for pot shards, picnicing, attending, by invitation, dances on the 2nd Mesa, listening to Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong and the Jazz greats, playing his weekly poker game, and weekends at Breezy Point. He was pre-deceased by his parents, his aunties, his sister Ann Stillman and his beloved Mary Ann. He is survived by his daughter Dorian Voorhees of Tucson, son Joseph P. Voorhees III (Fran) of Phoenix, granddaughter Lauren Malanga of Tucson, grandsons, Joseph P. Voorhees IV (Hope) of Phoenix, Christopher Voorhees (Sheli) of Knoxville, TN, 3 great-granddaughters, Mackenzie, Caycie and Zoe and 1 great grandson Rowan, and nieces, George Stillman of San Diego and Nancy D’Mura of Tucson. A celebration of his life will be held at All Saints’ Episcopal Church, 6300 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, AZ on Wednesday, September 26 at 11:30 A.M. In lieu of flowers a contribution is suggested to Hospice of the Valley, Gardiner Home, c/o 1510 E. Flower St., Phoenix, AZ 85014. Arrangements entrusted to Whitney & Murphy Funeral Home and Post Scripts by Posey.
Suzanne Schwake
Joe was one great guy! And a good tennis player too. I always enjoyed the funny “trophies” he had for the tennis mixers at the Orme School Trustee meetings.
BOB AND DORIS MILLER
WE ARRIVED AT THE ORME SCHOOL FOR THE 1977-78 SCHOOL
YEAR. IT DID NOT TAKE LONG TO BE INTRODUCED TO THE
BOARD OF TRUSTEES . IMMEDIATELY WE UNDERSTOOD
WHY DR. VOORHEES WAS A SPECIAL PART OF OF THIS PLACE
CALLED ORME SCHOOL.
Jeb & Dorothy Rosebrook
Jeb first met Joe when he was a grade school student at the then Quarter Circle V Bar Ranch School, now The Orme School. Joe was Jeb’s dentistt in high school years. From the time Jeb and Dorothy were married in 1960, Dr,, Joe was one of the best friends anyone could ever have. And we were all a part of “Dr. Joe’s Annual Tennis Tournament “at Orme. A special occasion came on Joe’s 90th birthday when Dorothy and I sat with him at All Saints and we let Licia know this man was today ninety years old – a standing ovation for Dr. Joe. We loved this man, and we will so miss him.
Jeb & Dorothy Rosebrook
Jeb & Dorothy Rosebrookj
It was an April Sunday at All Saints. We mention to Rev. Licia that this man beside us was on this day 90 years old. Dr. Joe received a standing ovation. His life was indeed a standing ovation. Jeb met him at age ten at the Orme School; he was Jeb’s dentist when Jeb was in high school. We knew Joe and Mary Ann, I served on the board for all 18 years of his outstanding chairmanship. So many of us played every year in “Dr. Joe’s Tennis Tournament” at Orme.
Dr. Joe was a man with humor, kindness and generosity – she was Dorothy and I was forever “Jebbie.” Yes, his life was a Standing Ovation for all who knew and were touched by him. Jeb & Dorothy Rosebrook
Todd Horn
What a pleasure and honor it was to serve under Joe’s leadership at the Orme School. I will always remember his gracious good humor, honest wisdom, and ability to bring out the best in everyone with whom he worked. While a tough competitor on the tennis court and a tough talker when it came to USC football, Joe’s warmth, loyalty, and heart of service will be missed by all. He also was a darn good dentist and gave new meaning to the concept of getting drilled by your boss.
My deepest sympathies to his family,
Todd Horn
(Headmaster of Orme School 1990-97)
Gretchen Goff Dooling
Such sadness. Dr. Joe was one of the nicest men I ever met. Such a gentle man. Always full of fun and with a twinkle in his eye. A very good USC dentist, too! He will certainly be missed. He was definately a most beloved member of the Orme family. Gretch Dooling ’56
Bill Walton
I knew Joe since I was very young initially as my dentist. However, it was my time as a member of the Orme School Board of Trustees that are most memorable working with Joe. Orme went through a number of trying times in the 1980s and 1990s and it was working with Joe’s leadership and his sense of very big hearted compromise that seemed to carry the day on many occasions. I will miss knowing that such a dedicated and warm hearted human being as Joe was is no longer walking among us.
pansy
I just discovered all these nice remarks! 11-8-12