BY WENDI REARDON
Clarkston News Staff Writer
The Clarkston community lost a friend when Joey Nederlander passed away unexpectedly at the age of 25, July 12.
“He was someone you could tell all your secrets to and he would hold your confidence,” said his mom, Sue. “He would be there for you on your darkest day, and would celebrate your successes with you.”
Family, friends and community are invited to celebrate Joey’s life and his spirit this Saturday at Depot Park, 8-10 p.m.
“Joey was the kind of person who accepted you no matter who you were, pauper or prince,” Matthew Telliga shared on GoFundMe set up in tribute to Joey.
Sue shared she will always remember Joey’s big heart.
“He was a person who was guided solely by his heart,” she said. “He was completely uninterested in any situation or scenario which involved any judgement, injustice or criticism. To him the most important things were putting a smile on your face, holding your hand when you needed a friend and wiping a tear away.”
Joey returned to Clarkston at the beginning of summer after being in Clermont, Florida for a year with his dad, J.J.
He began working at Andiamo Trattoria as a server his second week back.

“He felt very proud to be working at one of Clarkston’s finest restaurants,” Sue shared. “He went through three weeks of training and I still have his folder which is an inch thick of notes he took of all of the menu items he studied so he could present the menu to guests and offer complementary drinks and desserts to whatever entree the customer had selected.”
Joey attended Clarkston Community Schools from Clarkston Elementary to Clarkston High School, where he dropped out his senior year.
“For him the social dynamic at the high school was causing him distress,” Sue shared. “It was not the lack of intelligence. It was just the opposite. He was able to absorb the learning material much more quickly than his contemporaries. He found high school boring. It was something he and I argued about.”
Joey received his GED and continued his education at University of Phoenix.
“In the end, he was more of a parent to me than I was to him. I was very concerned about all the things we have to pay attention to to live a progressive lifestyle,” Sue said. “He just said ‘mom, we have always been a team and we are always going to be a team Everything is going to be alright.'”
Sue set up a GoFundMe page in tribute of Joey and to continue the principles which guided his life.
Her goal is to raise $10,000, which $1,500 is to support the cost of the Candlelight Vigil; $5,000 for any Clarkston youth in need of grief or guidance counseling; and $3,500 to enhance educational programming for Clarkston Community School. The address is www.gofundme.com/nederlandertribute.
Joey was devoted son of Sue and J.J.; grandson of Paul (late Patsy) Meeker and Joseph (Carol) Nederlander;  brother of T.J., David, Alexis and Jaclynne Nederlander. He was cousin of Nate, Dust, Carly, Danielle & Jeremiah Meeker.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service is Wednesday, July 20 at 12:30 p.m. at Lewis E. Wint & Son Funeral Home, Clarkston where friends may visit at 11:30 a.m. Online guestbook, www.wintfuneralhome.com.
“There has been an outpouring of support from friends, family and the community even prior to the public announcement of his passing,” Sue said. “I am grateful to my community and my neighbors for all of their support.”