It is with heavy hearts we bid farewell to a man of many names, many talents, and countless dad jokes – Roger “Joe” Allen Wilcox Cloud. Joe, a revered genius, musician, entrepreneur, and esteemed lawyer, crossed the final threshold with his loved ones by his side on July 2, 2023. 

Joe, the youngest of three boys, first opened his eyes to the world on April 23,1949, in the music-filled city of Nashville, TN. His father, a salesman for DuPont, soon moved the family to the countryside of New Jersey, where Joe nurtured his affection for farm cats and music, growing tomatoes and kittens with equal enthusiasm. It was here where Joe mastered the piano, a self-taught skill that sprung from youthful boredom but bloomed into a lifelong love.

High school ushered in the age of spotlight and applause as Roger discovered his love for the stage and starred in several musical theater productions at Somerville High School – but a wave of grief cut the melody short with the heartbreaking loss of his mother in his senior year. With his older brothers already out of the house, Joe packed his life into suitcases and moved to Florida to live with his father, John, stepmother, Muriel, and two younger sisters, Jean and Julie. 

Joe went on to study broadcasting at the University of Florida. During this time and in between classes he delivered pizzas for his beer-fund, worked at Lipham Music Store for the jam sessions with local musicians, played guitar in the band named “Jake,” and earned his nickname “Shiner” from an overenthusiastic canine encounter. 

After graduating college in 1973, Joe’s life had a change in tempo when his brother, Jonny, encouraged him to move to San Francisco to work with him at his law firm. Discovering an unexplored track in his playlist, Joe fell in love with the law. Following his older brother’s advice, Joe attended Santa Clara University School of Law from 1980-1983. Among legal lexicons and basement keggers, he found a priceless gem, his future wife and mother of his children, Charlotte Cloud. Selling his beloved antique Plymouth to purchase an engagement ring, Joe married Charlotte in 1984, a union that would span 24 years. 

Joe and Charlotte’s journey led them to Scotts Valley, CA, where they blossomed both professionally in the realm of law, and personally, becoming proud parents to Cora in 1988 and Caroline in 1995, both namesakes of Joe’s great aunts and great role models in his life. 

Joe’s practice in intellectual property law for Silicon Valley’s tech giants was equally matched by his personal achievements, which included:

• Releasing a CD of original songs
• Becoming a full voting member of the Recording Academy
• Inventing a popular cat toy, “Cat Fishin’,” which was sold in pet stores around the country
• Designing the world’s first interchangeable pickup guitar, and
• Performing around the Bay Area with the coveted Joe Sharino Band                                                           

Joe was a lover of music, law, cats, and cars, and a proud father with a signature dish of  scrambled eggs and chopped salami, fondly known as “daddy eggs.” His was a life characterized by endless creativity, a dark and goofy sense of humor, an open and curious mind, and a quiet respect for every living creature – refusing to kill even the ugliest of spiders. While his marriage didn’t last through hard economic times and life’s transitions, in 2006 he followed Charlotte and his daughters in their move across the country to Huntsville, Alabama. It was here that Joe continued writing songs and celebrated the arrival of his beloved granddaughters – Charlotte and Olivia in 2015 and Madeline in 2019. 

In his last several years of life, Joe faced significant health complications, including degenerative disc disease, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, atrial fibrillation, and most recently, a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. Together, these conditions led to challenging days filled with pain and limited mobility, bounding Joe to his La-Z-Boy and constraining his ability to fully partake in his favored pursuits.

However, these limitations did not confine his spirit, his humor, or his love for those around him. He became the master of his La-Z-Boy throne, presiding over family gatherings, trivia nights, and jam sessions, all from the comfort of his (or someone else’s) comfy chair. His presence became a warm constant, a beacon of resilience and love amidst the hardships he was enduring.

In his final years, Joe’s physical world may have been reduced in scope, but the reach of his influence, the depth of his love, and the magnitude of his spirit were boundless. Through these adversities, he reminded us that life is not defined by the challenges we face, but by how we rise above them. Joe’s legacy, therefore, is not one of illness or confinement, but rather a story of enduring love, resilience, and the power of the human spirit to shine even in the darkest hours.

Joe is survived by his beloved Charlotte Cloud of Madison, Alabama; his daughters, Caroline Wilcox Cloud of Huntsville, Alabama; Cora Foster and husband Trey of Madison, Alabama; his granddaughters Charlotte, Olivia, and Madeline Foster; his brother, Jonathan Wilcox and wife Cynthia of Woodside, California; his brother Jamison Wilcox and wife Ellen of Vancouver, British Columbia; his sister, Jean Badalamenti of Six Mile, South Carolina; his sister Julie Downing and husband Jeff of Six Mile, South Carolina, and numerous beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins around the world. 

His legacy extends beyond his family to the 40+ cats that had the good fortune to call him their human, and to all of us who were touched by his unique brilliance, deep friendship, and transcending creativity. 

A private burial service for the family will take place on Friday, July 7th at Maple Hill Cemetery. A virtual celebration of life will be held for all friends and family on Thursday, July 13th – see registration details below.