Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Joe Collins, my brother, John S. Parisi and I have be reunited. My birth name was Robert Thomas Parisi. I now have met with my brother several times, we speak to each other almost every day. I have met aunts, uncles, cousins, and a whole extended family! I even got to meet my birth mother before her death in early December. Now the mystery of my family before I was adopted has been solved. It has been for all of us, a dream come true. From the bottom of my heart, thank you Joe.

George T. Schupp
schupp@peoplepc.com
May 3, 2007

The Angels Among Us: Joe Collins is the Adoption Community’s Guardian Angel

Published in Atlantic Highlands Herald
By Carol Barbieri, March 13, 2003

“Call Joe Collins. He’ll find your
mother…dead or alive.”
—everyone at the adoptee reunion meeting

I’m not what you’d call a “group” person. I’m independent. I like doing things on my own. That’s why I was the last person you’d expect to see at a meeting for adoptees who were trying to find their birth families. But, I was desperate. I had been trying to find my birth mother for almost two years. Our older son was seriously ill with a heart problem and his doctor was urging me to find out anything I could about his condition, Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome, a condition that often ran in families.

The last anyone had heard from my mother was in 1954. Even her sisters and brother hadn’t heard from her since then. She used more names than someone who was in the Witness Protection Program. She was reported to have moved to Australia. Australia? How would I find her halfway around the world?

I didn’t know if she was alive or dead. I tried to obtain a death certificate, only to find out that New Jersey files deaths under “date of death,” not under a person’s last name. What if she remarried? I was stuck. And our son’s problem was getting worse. He had already been through one heart operation, and we knew that another one was imminent. I was running out of time.

A friend of mine urged me to attend an adoption reunion group that met regularly in Keyport. I gave in and went. When I told my story to the group, I could see by the looks on their faces that they didn’t have much hope for me. Every suggestion that they made I had already done. Social Security, Catholic Charities, tax offices, phone directories, the Census, the New York Public Library…I had tried them all.

That’s when one of the members said, “Call Joe Collins. He’s a private investigator. He can find anyone. Dead or alive, he’ll find her. He’s our angel.”  The group unanimously agreed. If I wanted to find my mother, I’d have to call Joe Collins. They told me that he had an incredible track record. That he simply never gave up. They also told me that he had recently been a guest on The Sally Jessy Raphael Show. What did I have to lose? So, I called him. I got his answering machine. “He’s probably out solving cases,” I thought. He’s just been on TV, for God’s sake. Will he even have time for me?”

Not only did Joe make time for me, he was so interested in my case, and so touched by the severity of our son’s problem, he put all of his other cases “on hold,” to work on mine. “Your case is going to be a tough one,” he said. “But I’ll do everything I can to help you. I’ll leave no stone left unturned. Somebody knows what happened to your mother.”

Joe did do everything he could to help me. He met me at libraries, at funeral parlors, at police departments, even at bars! (Not to drink, my birth mother was an alcoholic.) He stopped total strangers on the street and showed them pictures of my mother. He did everything but give me a gallon of his blood. (He would have, if he knew it could have helped me.)

After several weeks, Joe and I both realized that we were running out of options. “Don’t give up!” he said. “We’ll find out what happened to her.” And we did. Because of Joe’s determination, persistence, and good advice, he not only solved the mystery of my mother’s disappearance, but he found out that I had another sister!

I could have let our relationship end when my case ended. But Joe is the kind of person who you don’t want to let out of your life. And we have remained friends ever since…over ten years now. I’ve yet to meet someone who is not only dedicated to his profession, but puts his heart into his work like no one I have ever met. I think that it’s his passion, and his desire to reunite families, that is part of the reason why he is so successful.

What’s more, the man never takes a vacation. He told me once a few years ago that he was “going away” for a while. “Good!” I told him. “You need a vacation. Where are you going?” He told me that he was going to Guatemala to work with an organization called “The God’s Child Project,” a group that helps underprivileged children. I was floored. Here’s a guy who dedicates his entire life to helping people, and even dedicates his “down” time, to help people. He has made four trips to Guatemala over the last year and a half.

Since I met Joe, he has been awarded the United States Congressional Coalition on Adoption’s “Angel in Adoption” Award, in September, 2000. He has also reunited over 1,300 families.

The people at the adoption reunion group were right. Not only did Joe find my mother, but he turned out to be an angel in my life, too.

Carol Barbieri
Published in Atlantic Highlands Herald
March 13, 2003

June 25th I made the call…frustrated (for years); constantly running into walls. Tired of getting nowhere, I put it in Joe’s lap, never expecting to get a call back.

Less than 24 hours passed, I wasn’t expecting the call so fast—my cell phone rang and all I did was gasp! He found out more than I ever expected. Good news and bad, it was the best news I’ve ever had—(even though some of it was very sad).

He’s the hardest working angel here on earth that I’ve ever met, what he’s done for me I won’t ever forget! My life has changed forever, thanks to Joe. I’m more grateful than you’ll ever know.

I have found a part of myself I never knew was inside me. I now have a brother and sister who stand beside me. There’s a strong connection; an unbelievable bond that we share. So we begin our journey once again, starting right from here! Thanks Joe!!!

We love you Mom!!! <3 <3 <3
A HUG FOR JOE

Catherine
CBato@aol.com
July 20, 2001

Joe Collins is a wonderfully supportive and sensitive private investigator. My husband and I gave him my daughter’s identifying information, and 2-1/2 weeks later, he came to our home for a meeting. Joe encouraged us to talk about why we were searching at that time in our lives. He shared so many wonderful stories of people he’s reunited to give us a sense of what was to come. Joe also cautioned that a very small percentage of people do not want contact, and he encouraged us to think about how that would feel.

After 2-plus hours of discussion, Joe said he thought he had found my daughter! He handed me a copy of her high school picture. What a shock! It could have been my high school picture! I looked at her beautiful face and knew that a reunion was meant to be. Less than one week later, I asked him to contact my daughter. Joe talked with her the next day, and we had dinner with Donna and her family that night! That was almost 3 years ago. What a glorious reunion! We thank God every day for all our blessings!

Joe certainly deserves all the commendations he’s received. He’s thoughtful, gentle, giving, kind, and loving. You won’t find a more sincere, diligent person to handle your search. God bless you, Joe!

jfoster7@optonline.net
May 29, 2001

P.S.—I now co-facilitate a Post Adoption Support Group at the Presbyterian Church, 65 South St., Morristown, NJ. We meet the 1st Saturday of the month from 1 - 5 p.m., and many of us continue the fellowship over dinner at a local restaurant. You are welcomed to join us, or to contact me for more information at 973.455.1268.

I was going to be twenty-five in another month and I was feeling that it was time to search for my biological parents. I tried doing some searching of my own on the Internet, but I was not having any luck. I was a private adoption and I had hardly any information to go on, so I knew that I was going to have to seek further assistance.

A friend of mine gave me Joe Collins’ phone number and I contacted him later that day. Even though I was ready to find out whatever information I could, I was still shaking when I called Joe for the first time. No matter how much you prepare yourself, you never know how you will truly react when faced in an unpredictable situation. Joe immediately put me at ease with his kind mannerisms and comforting ways. I gave Joe all of the information I had and he began the search.

A few weeks passed and Joe would call and update me as to where he was in the search and to see how I was doing. Then, on my twenty-fifth birthday, I received the call I was waiting for. Joe called to wish me a happy birthday and to let me know that he had just spoken with my biological father. My biological father was unaware of my existence and was in shock. I could not have imagined making that call myself and I was so thankful that Joe was able to explain my situation to him. I admire Joe for the way he handles these type of delicate issues in such a professional manner. About two weeks later, Joe informed me that he found my biological mother. He had come across articles that might upset me and he wanted to be there as I went over the material. I decided that I still wanted Joe to contact her regardless of the information that had surfaced during the search. She gave Joe her number and a time that I could reach her. My biological mother and I spoke for the first time and agreed to meet shortly thereafter. We met two weeks later and I was relieved to finally meet her and thank her for caring enough about me to give me to parents who love me unconditionally.

In the meantime, my biological father was in contact with Joe and agreed to meet with me. Joe offered to go with me to meet him and to assist in any way he could during this reunion. Looking back on that emotional visit, I could not have imagined going through that day without Joe being there.

Even though I do not have a relationship with my biological parents, I am relieved to have finally put together the pieces that were missing from my puzzle. Joe Collins is an extraordinary person who has forever changed my life by making it more complete. He helped me through a very exhausting time with compassion and empathy, as if he was going through it himself. To know Joe Collins, is to know that you have been blessed. I am ecstatic that he is being recognized for his tireless work and for touching the lives of those that he encounters.

C.J.
cjlabue@hotmail.com
July 5, 2001

I began searching in earnest for my birth mother when I was 28 years old. Somewhat of a pessimist, I had no expectations and no idea as to how to go about tracking her down. Enter Joe Collins. I had nothing more than my amended birth certificate to assist him and yet, within a matter of days, he not only identified who she was and made contact with her, but he also took me to her in New York City for our first face-to-face meeting.

My reunion was not like those happy, tearful ones you see on talk shows and yet, it played a pivotal role in my life. My birth mother was not mentally stable and we did not remain in contact with one another. Despite that, it was something I needed to do and I would never want to deter an adult adoptee from searching. I no longer have to wonder about my origins and more importantly, I gained a new appreciation for my adoptive parents. If not for Joe’s compassion and expertise, I doubt I would have been able to go through with it. His involvement made all the difference.

Pavia K.
pavia@gti.net
December 19, 2000

I am 31 years old and thanks to Joe Collins, I spent my most recent birthday with my birth mother. I found Joe while I was looking for an investigator to help me find her and I knew immediately that he was right for this job. He does not need a mountain of paperwork and his business is not a factory where multiple people handle your case.

I felt comfortable speaking with Joe and telling him my hopes and fears alike. He cares about what he does and I found that to be a great source of comfort. I believe that Joe’s policy of ‘no find, no fee’ is probably one in a million when you are involved in this sort of work. No one else would put in so much of his time without a retainer, I’m sure. His instincts are so in tune with the children and parents of adoption. He is aware of the private nature regarding these types of searches and can be trusted to put your best interests at the top of his list.

I know that all cases are different, but I was shocked at how quickly he was able to find my mother. He knows each and every step to take from start to finish. You will not find a more caring or more efficient investigator than Joe Collins. He is more than well-deserving of his Angels in Adoption Award and I will sing his praises for a lifetime.

Eve R.
PERE92@aol.com
November 30, 2000

I have so much wonder and joy in my life now. I feel so complete. At last I know that the heart wrenching decision I had to make 31 years ago due to my age, having no support—emotionally or financially—was the correct and most loving thing I could have done for my daughter Eve.

She has had a good life, and has grown up to be an amazing woman. I would like to thank all adoptive parents for giving love and family to all these children of adoption. What would have become of Eve and others without these people filled with love for a child? Eve is well-adjusted and a loving, kind, and understanding human being. We are so happy with each other, and she understands why I did what I did, and holds no ill feelings towards me. I, of course, will always feel guilty, but she assures me, it’s a waste of time. The life we have ahead of us is filled with happiness, more people to love. I have gone from being a mom of an 8-year old and 14-year old, to a mom of a 31-year old and a grandmother to a 6- and 3-year old.

What joy is that overnight? When Joe first contacted me, he was very understanding and very easy to talk to. To drop a surprise like he did, he needed to have tact, caring, understanding and compassion for knowing his call was a life changing moment in my life. I must say, Joe had all of these qualities and more. He talked to me at great length for two days, and was just very open. I can tell you as the birth mother, this news was quite emotional, shocking, surreal and mind-boggling.

Before I knew it, Joe had given my number to Eve—we talked for two hours that first time and haven’t stopped. We talked and e-mailed since then, getting to know each other, but it wasn’t enough. I had to hold her again. So on her 31st birthday, we met for the second time in our lives, and it was just heaven.

We want people to know how happy we are, and who we have to thank for that. Joe’s kindness and compassion will be forever remembered, and forever appreciated. If even one birth mother or adopted child will see that it can work out on both sides, we hope that they will choose you, Joe Collins, angel on earth, to help them reunite. You have given me the greatest gift. Thank you.

Eve R.’s birth mother
December 5, 2000