Joseph Sottile, also know as "Silly Sottile," has taught for a number of years in upstate New York. He loves writing poetry and performing. He enjoys, kids, words, and pictures.
He has spent so much time with kids that he feels like he is one of them — at least in his mind and especially when he writes poetry. When he writes poetry he thinks of the kids that he has taught and his five grandchildren. (One of them keeps on asking, "When are you going to put my picture on your website?" So he has done that for all five. He calls them "My Favorite Poetry Readers.")
The highlight of his day is to visit classrooms and read poetry. He says, "Poetry is music to the sole — no matter what the foot size." He's a frequent classroom guest author. After a recent classroom presentation of his book Picture Poetry on Parade!, Careen wrote, "It was wonderful to have you here! I almost laughed my head off! I bet more people would like to [hear them] too."
He likes most sports and he still rides his bike a lot, swims, and plays golf. When he was a kid he thought that golf was a very silly game — hitting a little white ball with a stick and then chasing it. Now he loves the exercise, the sunshine, and the people he meets.
The most dynamic person Joe ever met was Marilyn, his wife. He met her in college while they were both studying to be teachers. Two weeks after graduation they got married and moved to Rochester, New York. She is the mother of two daughters, Mary Lou and April. She is now retired, but she also tutors and is a first-class seamstress. Among other sewing projects, each year she creates priceless Halloween costumes for the grandkids.
Photographer: Lori Farr, www.farrphotography.com