Joseph DeCaro, known by most readers, friends and coworkers as “Joe D.,” passed away Sunday afternoon. He was 62.

Joe D. was one of the original Mets bloggers, founding Metsmerized Online in 2005 as a way to share his opinions and interact with fans. Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, he was a lifelong Mets fan who experienced both of the team’s championships in 1969 and 1986, as well as all the heartbreaks along the way. Away from baseball, he was an avid movie fan and lover of classic rock. He also proudly served in the Navy from 1981 to 1983.

Under Joe’s leadership, Metsmerized has become a go-to source for Mets coverage over the last 18 years. Joe had more than 8,000 MMO articles to his name. In 2013, he founded Mets Minors, the longest-running site for Mets minor league news and information. One of Joe’s last projects was working on a redesign of the site, which MMO will work to implement in his honor.

Joe will be dearly missed by everyone who got to know him, whether in his personal life or through his writing. He is survived by his loving family, his two blogs, his dedicated staff and the Mets’ next World Series championship.

A kind soul, Joe loved his family and was a friend to all who had the privilege of getting to know him.