By james art 
CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVE) — First responders, retirees and members of the Navy SEAL community packed a Chesapeake church Monday to say goodbye to a man remembered as a patriot and a true American hero.
Originally from Virginia Beach Maurice “Mo” Joseph64, who died on October 9 after a short battle with brain cancer, had a career full of heroic events, but it seems that one response, miles from home, is what led to his death.
Mourners, some wearing badges and even some on all fours, honored Joseph, whose heroism spanned decades.
June 1991: Joseph, as a member of the Norfolk police SWAT team, captured a fleeing man after he killed four children.
“Citizens were applauding the police and saying thank you,” Joseph said at the time. “Even this officer was caught off guard.”
Has he ever felt such gratitude?
“No, it’s the first time,” he said. “It makes me feel good.”
“It was kind of shocking because the whole neighborhood cheered us on,” said retired officer Craig Stevens.
His wife, Gina Joseph, recently learned about the quadruple homicide case.
“And it makes me wonder how many other stories are similar to heroism,” she said. “He just did it because of who he is and [he] I never wanted the credit for it.
September 1980: Moe was Orlando Goodhope’s hero on the football field at Norfolk State University. Joseph, the center, offered advice that would help send Goodhope to the NFL.
“He was running this offensive line and I came in and he grabbed my arm saying ‘Look at this. follow me
September 11, 2001: When the Twin Towers fell, Moe, his wife Melody, who was a Norfolk police detective, and 36 other Norfolk police officers volunteered to help. Dave Goldberg organized the trip.
“We went to Ground Zero and worked there for two weeks — search and recovery,” Goldberg said.
ALS would claim Melody’s life in 2014.
After a second career in the Navy SEAL community, Joseph retired and moved to Florida. Months later, he was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer.
His children shed tears of sadness and tears of joy in an emotional farewell.
“I know what a compassionate person he was,” Ryan Dickerson said.
Said Christine Joseph: And what we heard, all the stories, were just as we know him.’
Suffolk firefighter Michael Joseph said the service “reinforced all the lessons I’ve learned over the years”.
“Just look around,” said Hollywood actor Alex Joseph. “Everyone here loved Dad and he loved them all.”
Other former Norfolk officers who responded to the World Trade Center died or became ill from the toxins.
If you would like to help others struggling with 9/11-related illnesses, the Joseph family asks that you make a donation to Tunnel to the Towers Foundation..
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