Joe Reyes Apodaca

March 18, 1942 - April 25, 2024 - Joe was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona. Since childhood he loved the arts and crafts and always had projects going. After high school he took classes in jewelry making and began to sell his work. With the encouragement of mentors, he was accepted to Rochester Institute of Technology, School for American Craftsmen, majoring in Metals and graduating with his MFA. It was here that he met fellow Metals student, Linda Woltjes. They married in 1967.

After teaching stints in Toronto and LA, they moved to Altadena, CA where they set up a studio and started their business. They also expanded their family welcoming Janeen and William.

In 1977 they moved to Lake Oswego, Oregon where they built a studio onto their house. Joe became head of the Metals Department at Oregon School of Arts & Crafts (OSAC) from 1980-1986. After that, they worked full time at their business. Over the years they gained a large clientele for their custom-designed jewelry.

They also made hollowware. Chalices for priests, the set of altar pieces for St. Vincent Hospital Chapel, and a ceremonial mace for Marylhurst University. Joe has a candleabra in the Permanent Collection of the Smithsonian’s Renwick Gallery.

Joe loved to go rock hounding for Oregon Sunstones. From dozens of rough pieces he would choose a special one to cut and polish and then make a piece of jewelry to hold it. Cutting all kinds of stones was a great joy for him. He was a member of the Columbia-Willamette Faceters’ Guild and also the Creative Metal Arts Guild.

He is survived by his wife and business partner of 57 years, Linda: his children Janeen (Marc Thomas) and William (Shanny); and his sister Madeline.

A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, July 14 at 2:00 p.m. at The Blue Heron Auditorium of Willamette View, 12705 SE River Rd., Portland 97222.

For those who wish, donations may be made in his name to Parkinson’s Resources of Oregon or to All Classical Radio.