Meet Joe Britte! After retiring from the Gainesville Police Department, Joe became an assistant football coach at Lakeview Academy as well as the Girls Soccer Coach. When Joe isn’t coaching he loves to dance and play the drums which he learned from a dance group from Cape Verde Island, Africa. He also enjoys spending time with his family and friends.
We want to thank Joe for recently spending time with us to tell us more about his life and love of Hall County.
Question: What inspired you or led you to your current career?
Answer: “I can honestly say my mom. She taught for approximately 31 years in Rhode Island. My sister is a retired teacher in the Massachusetts school system. From working with kids as a police officer in government housing and coaching at Lakeview Academy for 8 years is what led me back to the school system to mentor kids.”
Q: What is your favorite restaurant in Hall County and what do you love there?
A: “Atlanta Highway Seafood Market. I am a big seafood person. I am originally from Providence, Rhode Island so seafood is my thing.”
Q: How long have you lived or worked in Hall County?
A: “I have been here since ‘97”
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in Hall County?
A: “Chief Frank Hooper. My former chief with Gainesville Police Department. We served a long time together. He was great with the community. He gave me the opportunity to get to know Hall County.”
Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “I would travel back to Cape Verde Island in West Africa where my family is originally from. I would like to work at the academy and train police officers.”
Q: What is your favorite movie OR what is the first movie you remember seeing in a theatre?
A: “The first movie I remember seeing is ‘King Kong.’ We saw it in a drive-in when they were very popular.”
Q: What advice would you give a crowd of people?
A: “Always be humble and give back.”
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
A: “I would love to travel to Egypt. I love the pyramids and mummies.”
Q: What is your favorite music/ 3 bands you would like to see (dead or alive)?
A: “I love reggae music. I would love to see Bob Marley. As well as Grace Evora, he is a singer from Cape Verde.I wish I could have seen Michael Jackson in concert because I heard his concerts were fantastic.”
Q: Choosing anyone and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch? Why? Where in Hall County would you have lunch?
A: “I would love to have lunch with Bill Belichick. I am a huge Patriots fan. I want to see what he is like outside of the football world because he is so strict and straightforward. He has to have a sense of humor.”
Q: What is your favorite thing about Hall County?
A: “The people. Being born and raised in Providence, Rhode Island my whole life the people of Hall County have really opened their arms to me. They have nothing but grateful to me, in every community the hispanic, black, white community. We are a melting pot of cultures. I speak four languages (Portuguese, Creole, Spanish, and English) so it has helped me communicate with everyone.”
Q: Where do you see yourself in five or 10 years?
A: “Still at Lakeview Academy. Coaching girls soccer and football. Possibly in a different administrator role.”
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “I love to dance. I danced in a cultural dance group from Cape Verde when I was younger. I love to play to drums as well.”
Q: What three words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “Faith, love, and peace.”
 
Interview by Abernathy Cochran Group Intern Amelia Payne.