[VoIP] We've lost a pioneer

[Steph Kerman]

Is it known whether he was in good and stable health or declining health?

Steph

Jayson Smith wrote:
> Joe Engressia, A.K.A. Joe the Whistler, A.K.A. Joybubbles passed
> away in his apartment approximately two days ago. He was found by
> management personnel after a phone friend grew concerned when he
> hadn't heard from him in several days. His family in Florida was
> notified. He was fifty-eight years old.
>      As most of you know, his ordeals with the phone company over
> the blue box issue were noted in the October 1971 Esquire Magazine
> article
> "Secrets of the Little Blue Box." Recent interests included
> humorous telephone postings called Phlogs on voicemail services.
> He wrote Telephiles for Playback Magazine. His interests also
> included children's literature and paraphernalia..
>      Although I never knew Joe personally, I did talk to him on the
> Wawina, Minnesota conference line which was set up on June 15,
> 2006, when Wawina cut over from N2 to T1 for its toll trunks. He
> also left many messages on a message board which was set up in the
> weeks prior to the cutover.
>      Please post this message to any other lists where you feel it
> would be appropriate, or send it to individuals. I am not in close
> contact with any of the old phone phreak crowd, but I'm sure some
> of you are, and can get the news out.
> Jayson
>
>