Joybubbles, Legendary Phone Phreaker Passes Away

If you are familiar with hacking culture at all, you likely know all about phone phreaking and the fact that Joe Engressia was one of the most well-versed individuals on the subject, also being called the grand daddy of the hobby. He was one of the very few who could whistle 2600Hz with his mouth, as well. I’ve listened to multiple interviews with him in the past and was impressed by his vast knowledge on phreaking and hacking in general. He passed away last week of a heart attack, at age 58.

I have sad news of yet another death, that of “Joybubbles”, born Joe Engressia. “Joybubbles” wasn’t just a “handle”, but rather what he legally changed his name to around 1990. He was also known by some as “The Whistler”. Joe Engressia was one of the better known blind “phone phreaks” of the 1960s/70s-era. He even got a job with Mountain Bell Telephone in the 1970s-era, and worked for a while as a TSPS Operator in Denver as well in other areas of Mountain Bell.

Source: Telecom Gear