Joseph Edward Thomas-Warguleski, "Joey" passed away on December 26, 2025 at the age of 37. He was born in Richmond, VA on February 20, 1988 and was preceded in death by his husband Timothy Justin Warguleski and his father Curtis Richard Thomas, Jr.

Joey is survived by his mother and stepfather, Patty and Wayne Loomis, sister Maggie Thomas, stepmother Angela Thomas, several aunts and uncles, many cousins, and numerous cherished friends.

Joey's inquisitive nature shone through from an early age, forming the basis for a lifetime of creative and academic achievement. His unflagging intellectual zeal resulted in a love of international travel, ownership of over one metric ton of books, and an ability to beat almost anyone in a game of Jeopardy.

Joey earned his Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA, followed by a Master of Arts in Education from Emerson College in Boston, MA. He returned to the College of William and Mary to pursue doctoral studies, completing the coursework for a Ph.D. in Policy, Planning and Leadership.

His working career reflected his wide-ranging interests and talents, spanning from theatre management at a Tony-award willing theatre in Boston, MA to government policy analysis in Washington, DC. One of Joey's great talents was his ability to research, learn and understand new things, and he used this across all the vocations he undertook.

While he loved performing and attending theatre, creating and sharing music, attending art exhibits, and splurging on fine dining, he was just as comfortable at home where he loved cooking, watching movies, playing video games, and decorating for the holidays. He so loved Halloween that he prepared a movie list for all 31 days of October, one to watch each night.

He moved to Chicago in June of 2023, joyfully anticipating cold snowy winters and an active downtown lifestyle. Joey and Tim settled into their apartment there, married, and adopted a kitten they named Katya.

Joey maintained numerous close friendships throughout the years from the Manassas, VA neighborhood he grew up in, through schooling and residences in Boston, Richmond and Washington, DC. His family and friends now share in the profound loss of such a creative, thoughtful, intelligent, compassionate, and uniquely funny soul.

A private Celebration of Life will take place in Richmond, VA.