The span of his life was in many ways tied to the military, from his birth in the Panama Canal Zone to his last years under the care of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs here in Santa Rosa and at the San Francisco VA Medical Center at Fort Miley.

Joseph, who was known as “Ric,” grew up an Air Force brat who went to high school in Japan. He was drafted into the military after high school and was sent to Vietnam. He served in the U.S. Army Special Forces, one of the Green Berets, but rarely talked publicly about it.

In 1969, following his military service, Joseph attended Sonoma State University and received his master's degree in psychology.

In the early 1970s, Joseph began teaching psychology at Santa Rosa Junior College. He met his wife Renee in 1974 in one of his classes.

At the college, Joseph saw how a fellow psychology instructor had started his own private practice, and he decided to do the same.

For many years, he had an office near the Town and Country shopping center in east Santa Rosa, later moving his office to College Avenue.

He was licensed as a marriage, family and child counselor, but the bulk of his clients were veterans who suffered from post traumatic stress disorder. He worked closely with veterans groups, including the VA in San Francisco, the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Vietnam Veterans of America.

Joseph's daughter, Nicole Durnford of Santa Rosa, said her father could relate to veterans because of his own experiences in Vietnam. His work helping others was also in many ways cathartic, she said.

Walt Fraser Jr., a longtime patient and friend, said Joseph had a “calm, peaceful” demeanor that helped many veterans come out of their shell.

“Ric was a therapist for many but at the same time we were his therapist. We call each other the Vietnam Family,” said Fraser, who served in Vietnam from 1969 to 1970.

“He was able to go into my heart and open me up,” said Fraser, his voice breaking. “And I was able to talk about things I wouldn't dare talk about.”

Durnford described her father as a fun-loving man who always liked to have a good time. He was always busy with his work but “he was a good dad,” she said.

He taught Santa Rosa Junior College for almost 30 years, retiring in the early 2000s. His wife Renee died in 2008, and a year later Joseph was diagnosed with liver cancer.

Durnford said her father was originally given about six weeks to live, “but he just kept on going.” She said her father was given “wonderful” care by VA staff.

“All the treatment they provided ... they were really fantastic,” she said.

In addition to Durnford, Joseph is survived by his son Michael Joseph of Santa Rosa; his mother Maria Joseph of Oakmont; and his brother Gerald Joseph of Santa Rosa. He is also survived by a granddaughter.

Fraser said Joseph would be deeply missed by many of the veterans he helped.

“He had a love for his country that was unreal,” he said. “He was a true American.”

Memorial services have yet to be announced. The family asks that contributions in his name be made to Santa Rosa Memorial Hospice.