A man on a mission. That description sums up Tamarac resident Joseph Gormley.
Born in Scotland, Gormley, 47, moved to the U.S. in 2003 after he fell in love with a Florida woman, Erin Ruth. Now married 19 years, the couple has two girls, Hailey, 6, and Mackenzie Rose, 4.
Erin Gormley bought her husband his first set of paintbrushes as a Christmas gift 15 years ago. A new world opened up for him, whose day job is as a custodian at Bayview Elementary School in Fort Lauderdale.
Once Gormley realized his passion for painting, he set about using his talent to do good, auctioning off many of his artworks for charity. His first painting raised money for an 11-year-old Scottish girl with brain cancer who needed treatment in the U.S. After reading about her, Gormley sent a painting that he did of the Glasgow Celtics head coach, Neil Lennon, to her family.
In 2012, that painting sold on eBay for $8,000. “That was the moment I realized my art could make a difference,” remembers Gormley.
“I know why I have this gift of being able to paint. It’s not for me; it’s to help raise money for others,” he says. “My day job is for my family. And my artwork is for my community.”
In 2015, Gormley painted a portrait of former Miami Marlins baseball player Giancarlo Stanton for the Marlins Foundation, which raised $25,000.
In 2018, he painted a portrait of Anthony Rizzo, a Parkland native who played baseball for the Chicago Cubs and the New York Yankees, which raised $4,000 to upgrade the baseball field at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
The same year, he worked with Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital to benefit the Conine Clubhouse, a no-cost residence for families with children undergoing cancer treatment, and helped raise thousands of dollars.
To date, Gormley estimates he has raised $300,000 for local charities, and he has no plans to stop. In 2019, he painted at the Parkland Cares fundraiser and donated the proceeds from his work to the foundation.
“Parkland Cares is very fortunate to have been one of the recipients when Joseph Gormley painted live at our wine dinner and donated the proceeds from his paintings,” Stacey Udine wrote online after the event.
“Every brush stroke gives Joseph the chance to inspire others, and we’re immensely grateful for his continued support of Parkland Cares,” she said.
In February, the prolific painter teamed up with 105.9 BIG radio DJ Doc Reno, whose charity, My Family Matters Foundation, raises money in partnership with the Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital Foundation to provide assistance to families who lose wages while caring for a child with cancer.
It was founded by Doc Reno in 2019 after he battled stage IV head and neck cancer. “How could I feel sorry for myself when next to me in the waiting room is a 7-year-old with brain cancer?” he says. “I saw what families were dealing with and wanted to do something to help.”
He continues, “Joseph is an amazing person — a true angel and a very gentle soul. I was blown away by his work. I’m thrilled he has offered his talents for this cause.”
Gormley painted live at Doc Reno’s “My Family Matters” golf tournament in February, at the Jacaranda Golf Club in Plantation.
Participants included former Miami Dolphins’ Bob Brudzinski and running back Ki-Jana Carter; radio disc jockeys Drew Heyman (Y100) and Paul Castronovo (BIG 105.9); rock drummers Nicko McBrain of Iron Maiden, Tico Torres of Bon Jovi, and Carmine Appice, former Ozzy Osbourne drummer; and many others.
With Iron Maiden being Gormley’s favorite band, he was thrilled to paint the portraits of the three drummers and auction them off with their signatures.
Other celebrities he has painted include Aerosmith singer Steven Tyler, Washington Commanders quarterback Doug Williams, and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres.
Gormley says he is raising his two girls to finish the journey he started and to leave a legacy behind.
“I’m very blessed,” says Gormley, who hopes to eventually raise $1 million for charity. “So many people struggle to find their purpose in life. I know my purpose — it’s to help and inspire others.”
For more information, visit josephgromleyart.com, myfamilymattersfoundation.org, or parklandcares.org.