Remembering Joe Rainey

UPDATED: Our very small industry is still coming to grips with the impossible news of the tragic and untimely passing of one of our best — Joe Rainey, SVP of Pop Promotion & Marketing at Capitol Records — a man with a huge heart and an even bigger smile, whose very presence lit up every room he walked into, died Friday, Oct. 12 at the age of 43.

In a statement, Greg Marella, Executive Vice President of Promotion for Capitol Music Group, commented, “All of us at CMG are incredibly shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely passing of our colleague and friend, Joe Rainey. He will be greatly missed. We offer our most heartfelt condolences to his family and loved ones at this extremely difficult time.”

To get some sense of the massive impact that Joe’s big heart and larger-than-life personality had on the many friends and colleagues whose lives he touched over the years, look no further than your Rainey-dominated Facebook feed this weekend or visit Joe’s Facebook page, which has become the de facto gathering place for us to mourn his passing and sing his praises. Three things we all knew as fact: Joe loved his job, his friends, and most of all, his kids.

Anyone in Joe’s sizable orbit who has ever started a new job or received a promotion is the proud owner of one (or more) of those glass nameplates he had specially made for you. Think of these treasured objects as a permanent tribute to Joe’s genuine love and his amazing thoughtfulness.

Rainey leaves behind his wife, LJ, daughter Madison and son Harrison.

• A memorial service for Joe Rainey will take place on Wednesday, October 17  from 5-9pm at Cecere Family Funeral Home, 2283 Grand Avenue, Baldwin, NY 11510, which is within walking distance from the Baldwin train station.

• Memorial donations in memory of Joe may be made to the Barbara C. Wilson Preschool Development Program, 280 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, NY 11797. Please send photos of Joe to Tim.Clarke@coxinc.com.