Creative Interests
José and Josy shared a love of creativity and the arts, which they demonstrated in numerous ways. Josy was very much an artist, playing the piano as well as writing poetry and prose. She performed piano solos in concerts and read her award-winning essays at graduations and special events. José expressed his creativity in varied media, such as ink sketches on glass and oil paintings, and through his love of international literature and its translation.
Together they attended concerts, the theatre, and exhibitions. They took their children to see presentations of classical orchestras and to the Philadelphia Folk Festival. They also had a vast collection of music from around the globe, including records, 8 track tapes, cassette tapes, and CDs. Their collection included Japanese, Mexican, and Russian folks songs, classical music, and pop hits from the 1940s and 50s. They attended Philadelphia Orchestra children’s concerts with their grandchildren, and took each to see an opera at age 16.
Both José and Josy loved art, visiting museums, castles, and galleries when they traveled the world. They enjoyed creating original pieces as well as copying techniques and paintings that they admired, such as Van Gogh’s The Potato Eaters and Picasso’s Woman with Loaves.
Their lifelong collection of owls resulted in sculpture, paintings, and owl décor that filled every room of their home.
