Joe Marcel Wolff, 85, of Narrowsburg, NY, a longtime resident of the area, passed away on Thursday, November 27, 2014 with his family by his side.

Born in Cologne, Germany, Joe grew up in South Africa and immigrated to the USA in 1948. Joe was married to his wife Joan for forty years until her death in 1995.

Much of Joe’s career in the film industry was spent as a cinematographer. He was a member of the Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers and he was appointed by his peers to membership of the Qualifications Committee of the Motion Picture Cameraman’s Union in New York.

With a solid background in photographic chemistry and engineering, he pioneered a number of innovations both within and outside of the film industry. Among these was the concept and design of the high-speed sound transfer system, for duplicating magnetic tracks on motion picture prints. For film processing, and magnetic striping applications, he designed the definitive constant tension control [US Patent #3,532,282]. For a complete change of pace, he undertook the product development engineering of a hydraulic concrete block machine [US Patent # 3,089,214]. Joe was a contributor to Backstage magazine and a contributing photography editor of the Popular Hobbies magazine.

Joe built his home in Narrowsburg in 1972. In 1978 Joe and Joan opened The Emporium in the old Snug Harbor storefront on Main Street. They sold an eclectic stock of jewelry, wools, gifts and sporting goods. Joe was also a member of the New York State Association of Magistrates and served as Town Justice of Tusten.

Joe was also a certified New York State Records Management Officer for Sullivan County. In this capacity he authored “The Illustrated Local History” textbook for the 4th grade and wrote the play “Joseph Brant-Thayendanegea.”

In later years, when Joe’s interest turned to computers, he authored the “Ten Minute Guide to DOS” and wrote several educational computer programs.

In 1999 Joe started what has turned out to be the definitive technical resource for classic 35mm rangefinder cameras in his website YashicaGuy.com.

Yashica Guy significantly contributed to a worldwide resurgent interest in these classic cameras. Joe’s expertise on repairs and his invention of a battery adapter has allowed tens of thousands of people in over sixty-five countries to bring their cameras back in use. Right up to his death, Joe fielded thousands of emails a year offering advice on camera repairs and photography techniques.

Joe is survived by his son Joe, wife Cheri and grandchildren Emma, Ian and Evan as well as his son Eugene, wife Mary and grandchildren Marcel, Natalie and Eugene.

Memorial donations can be made to the Tusten-Cochecton Branch of the Western Sullivan Public Library.