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Joe Gold, born March 10, 1922 passed away on July 12th, 2004. He was 82 years old. Joe, who had a heart attack recently, died in a Marina Del Rey Hospital, where has was hospitalized. Joe started the first Gold's Gym in Venice, California (not where the Gold's Venice is currently located) in 1965. He eventually sold Gold's Gym and a number of years later, started World Gym (in 1977). We will miss him.
- Here is what Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger statement said regarding Joe. "I am deeply saddened to learn of Joe Gold's death. Joe was a trusted friend and father figure and was instrumental in my training during my days as a bodybuilder. Gold's Gym was not only a training facility but it became a home to me. Joe was an inspiration to many and his death is felt deeply in the entire health and fitness community. In 1968 when I came to America, Gold's Gym was the gym where I first went to work out. Joe looked after me and encouraged me, and his dry sense of humor was a daily feature of the gym. "Joe Gold was a bodybuilding legend, a pioneer, but above all, deep in his heart, he was a bodybuilding fan. The world will be the poorer for his loss. I will miss him as a dear friend of 36 years."
- Here is what Lee Priest had to say regarding Joe Gold. "He will be missed. He was a good friend to me, ever since i started training there back in 1995, he was always there if I had a question and needed someone to talk to about anything. We had alot of good and funny times. He was one of a kind."
- Here is what bulletin board member Only Me had to say regarding Joe. "I started serious lifting and bodybuildingv in 1979 and was a member of the original World Gym. I loved that place. The outside area where we could lift under the sun was great. I remember Joe treating everyone the same. There was a board behind the counter where he would put people's names who were late with their dues (which were $150 for the year if I remember). I remember seeing Arnold's name up there saying he was late. Back then I really wasn't anyone. But I did weigh about 247 and benched 500 for two good reps. I was built good enough and was strong enough to have Joe always get on me about competing in powerlifting and bodybuilding at the same time cause he thought I could be a champion in both at the same time. With all the big names around that gym if I would miss one day he would ask me why. He remembered me out of all those big name guys and that made me feel real important back then. I will never forget that about him. He treated me like I was somebody even back when I was just a kid. I'm sorry I didn't see him in his later years. He will be missed. He was definitely an innovator."
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