Joel Bernard Haimes, age 64, passed away in the arms of his wife, on Monday, December 1, 2014 after a six year battle against cancer, the side effects, and the treatments. Joel was born on November 1, 1950 in New York City to David Haimes and Mildred Florence Haimes, both of whom predeceased him. He is survived by his wife of 35 years, D Jill Schmidt Haimes and his three very precious children, Cari Samantha, Andrea Beth, and David Birkett Haimes. Joel was a graduate of Franklin & Marshall College, "the best 10 years of my life." First and foremost, Joel was an educator. He taught in the first Lancaster School District classroom for discipline problem children, in spite of sometimes not having a classroom to teach in, at Reynolds Junior High. He worked for the Lancaster Intermediate Unit 13 in a program teaching adults life skills and GED preparation. Joel was a counselor and a mentor, offering career counseling and helping to start Life Management Associates. Joel was an entrepreneur and a businessman. In 1985 Joel and Jill started J & J Haimes LLC, a small sales and marketing company, in their home. It ultimately grew and relocated Mountville PA. The company continues to thrive, 29 years later, and has had the honor of working with many terrific companies and people. Joel had many passions in life. First and foremost was his love for his children and his family. He took great pride in their accomplishments and participated in their extra-curricular activities in the Hempfield School District. He was a soccer coach, a baseball/softball coach and referee, the MC for the raffle at the Farmdale Elementary School spring festival, Treasurer of the PTO, and probably the only Jewish Santa Claus in Lancaster County, a role he particularly loved to play at Farmdale. He was an avid fan of all New York sports teams, particularly the Yankees, a love which has been passed down to his 3 children. Joel was a musician. He enjoyed putting together concerts, whether large extravaganzas known as Katschubian Festivals or small backyard events. He also loved going to live concerts and collected music, with a particular passion for the Grateful Dead, and enjoyed sharing that passion with friends and acquaintances. Starting in the late 1970's, Joel played rhythm guitar for a local rock band, Rustoleum. The apex of his career, however, was having the very great pleasure of playing with Chubby Checker on the stage of the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame. Joel also took great pleasure in cooking and his favorite meal was the extravagance of Thanksgiving. Besides his adoring wife and children, Joel is survived by his brother Burton Kenneth Haimes (Monique) of New York City, his nephews and nieces, Matthew (Patricia), Spencer (Lauren), Meredith (Adam), Charlotte, and Trevor, great-nieces Chloe, Alexi, and Weston, and great-nephews Ethan and Grayson. A Celebration of Joel's life will take place on Friday, December 5, 2014 at Charles F Snyder Funeral Home of Lititz, with visitation from 1:00 to 2:00 p.m. and a service at 2:00. Please dress casually. There will be an open house at Jill and Joel's house following the service. The family welcomes contributions of stories, pictures, or jokes that Joel would appreciate for a memorial scrapbook. In lieu of flowers, please consider donating in Joel's name to the Rhythm and Blues Foundation (http://www.rhythm-n-blues.org), Music for Everyone (http://www.musicforeveryone.net) or a cancer charity of your choice.