Page 148 - ShowSight, March 2020

His compassion for the needs of others was influenced by his mother, whom he often accompanied as she volunteered for The Red Cross transporting patients with special needs to medical appointments. It continued in high school when he taught swimming to special-needs children. Her fierce family loyalty and mischievous sense of humor carried on in her son. Bonds with extended family were forged by many trips to his mother’s home state of Iowa. Joe internalized his father’s dynamic work eth- ic, showmanship and entrepreneurial spirit.
In Madison, Joe got his first dog, “Frit- zie,” a Springer Spaniel mix. In 1971, he graduated from Edgewood High School where he played baritone horn in the band and got his first taste of the theatre arts. He has faithfully attended his EHS class reunions. Joe performed several times with The Madison Savoyards, a community Gilbert and Sullivan operetta troupe. He began a solo singing career while attending Loras College in Dubuque where he met Duane Doll.
After relocating to Lakeland, Joe and Duane bred and showed Pekingese, including their beloved Champion Elpha- sun Arrythmia (Casey). Also found on their property were champion Milking Shorthorn cattle.
In 1983 they founded Doll-McGinnis Publications by launching their first glossy magazine, The Orient Express, to showcase the Pekingese breed. Duane served as the CEO and Joe as Publisher, Editor and Art Director. Delightful to read, his Letters from the Editor spanned such topics as breed health issues and standards, current events, issues within the dog show world and touching tributes to special friends and family lost, both human and canine.
In addition to his publishing and writ- ing for print and digital formats, Joe was
an accomplished music producer, song- writer and Tony Award winning producer (Best Musical 2007, “Spring Awakening”). In his larger-than life, he had also been an antiques store owner, interior designer and realtor.
Doll-McGinnis Publications expand- ed to include four more breed and group magazines, including the all-breed Show- Sight, from which the business’ website got its name. After AraMedia Group assumed ownership of the magazines, Joe continued as Editor Emeritus, filing his last editorial for the February 2020 issue.
Joe is survived by: his brother Charles McGinnis (Patti); sisters Elizabeth Strod- tman (Tom), Mary McGinnis, and Bar- bara ‘Totsy’ Moake (Rick); partner Zell von Pohlman; nieces Laura Guaschino (Brian), Kaighty McGinnis, Julie Chesna (Steve), and Sarah McGinnis; nephews Shane Strodtman (Cathleen), Kevin Moake (Catherine), Joshua Strodtman, and Con- nor McGinnis; great-nieces Mona Mera Strodtman, Sabrina Guaschino, Cass Skrip- sky Strodtman, and Hannah Chesna; and great-nephews Gavin McGinnis, Noah Strodtman, and Miles Guaschino; and closest cousin Janet Smith. Joe was pre- ceded in death by his parents, and husband, Duane Doll.
Joe’s family and friends will forever owe a debt of gratitude to the hospice nurses who attended to his comfort with skill and compassion, including Gilbert, Bonnie, Kelly, Barb, Amber, Lucy and Francoise.
In lieu of flowers, Joe would appreciate contributions to the Take the Lead Founda- tion, which provides direct services, support, and care for people in the sport of purebred dogs who suffer devastating circumstances due to life-threatening or terminal illness, or natural disasters.
146 | SHOWSIGHT MAGAZINE, MARCH 2020
BECOMING—INTRODUCING JOSEPH NEIL McGINNIS, JR.
“HIS COMPASSION FOR THE NEEDS OF OTHERS WAS INFLUENCED BY HIS MOTHER, WHOM HE OFTEN ACCOMPANIED AS SHE VOLUNTEERED FOR THE RED CROSS TRANSPORTING PATIENTS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS TO MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS.
JOE INTERNALIZED HIS FATHER’S DYNAMIC WORK ETHIC, SHOWMANSHIP AND ENTREPRENEURIAL SPIRIT.”