Jim and Crystal Ballard remember Joey

I thought if I waited a while to do this it would be a little bit easier, but I was wrong. Although a month has passed, the pain and sadness that I feel has not lessened.

We met the Pinasco family about 12 years ago, shortly after they moved into their beautiful home. It seemed that we had a lot in common, for it was only 5 months earlier that my family had moved in, one street up. Our husbands both wanted to get our families away from the chaos of Stockton and into some peaceful country living.

Our families’ friendship blossomed over the years and I came to love all of the Pinasco kids as if they were my own. In their younger years Virginia and Michelle were at my house daily playing with my own children, Adri was my babysitter, until she went away to college, and Joey was always a perfect gentleman, even at the age of 9 or 10 when they moved to the Collegeville area. As Joey grew older he became the kind of son that any father would be proud of. He would gladly drop whatever he was doing and run to help anyone in need. I can remember days where he would stop by just to say hello to my husband Jim and see how we all were doing. As Joey grew older it was amazing to see how much he loved his family. He was the kind of big brother any girl would love to have. Boy did he keep a watchful eye on his sisters. Toni would often tell me how Joey was always telling her, “Mom, you can’t let the girls do this and you can’t let them do that and you don’t need to let them go there, you need to keep them home.” He loved his sisters and was always looking out for their best interest. Although I do remember Adri and Joey going at it quite a bit, the love they had for each other still shined through, especially at Adri’s wedding, there was so much love in room and just thinking about it brings a smile to my face.

No parent should ever have to bury a child. It’s every parent’s nightmare and for our dear friends Joe and Toni this very nightmare has come true. My heart breaks for the entire Pinasco family. I think one of the things that hurts me the most, is knowing that there is absolutely nothing I can do to make my friends feel better or ease their pain, even in the slightest bit.

Jim and I send our love and prayers to all of you and we hope that God gives you the strength to hold tight to your faith and fight for Joey. You will always have us right at your side….Justice for Joey!

Love,
Crystal and Jim Ballard