10:20 a.m.
Sunday, August 1, 2021 10:19 am
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The outpouring of love and condolences that burst forth this weekend following the passing of Joe Hooper was striking.
And the crusade to give him the proper burial that he so wanted is getting closer to fruition. The Go Fund Me balance as of this morning was at $8,350, just $1,650 shy of the $10,000 needed.
Joe was terribly burned as a child when he went into his home that had caught fire and saved his sister's life.
Relatives told me on Friday that he spent about six months in the hospital recovering from burns over half his body, and later in life he always said he didn't want to be cremated, he wanted to be buried.
His wish will soon be granted, thanks to the generosity of Rochester residents who have come to consider him a Lilac City treasure.
And the move to make the soon-to-be-constructed roundabout at the intersection of Walnut, North Main and Washington streets Hooper Circle is also gaining serious steam with 1,300 likes and 556 comments already on the "You know you're from Rochester, N.H. if you ..." Facebook page.
George Basham of Rochester offered an informal name that is also sure to gain steam: "Hoopa-Loop".
To read The Rochester Voice article on Joe's wonderful life click here.
To donate to the Go Fund Me page click here.