Distinguished Geologist and Ethnographer: Joseph Melville See Jr.

Basic Information

Early Life and Education

Joseph Melville See Jr., born April 19, 1938, in Scarsdale, New York, was the only son of lifelong inhabitants of 168 Glendale Road, Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Melville See Sr. Riverdale Country Day School in the Bronx, known for its academic and athletic programs, molded his childhood. After graduation, he earned a BA in Geology from Princeton University in 1960. See joined the Tiger Inn eating club at Princeton and played at a 150-pounder. varsity football and cross-country (harrier) player.

After graduating, See moved to Tucson, Arizona, for graduate school at the University of Arizona. He added cultural anthropology to his geological research there. He met Linda Louise Eastman, a fellow graduate student whose photography and art would become famous, in this desert city.

Personal Life and Relationships

See married Eastman in Arizona on June 18, 1962. They had one daughter, Heather Louise See, on December 31, 1962. They divorced three years later in June 1965, but their daughter kept them close. Eastman, later Linda McCartney, married Paul McCartney, who adopted Heather, after their divorce.

See had tight family and social ties throughout his life. Heather was his only blood relative after his death. See was survived by Beverly Wilk and his godchildren, Jordan and Sergei Javier, whom he considered family. Beyond being an only son, See’s parents and siblings are unknown.

Career and Contributions

See worked in geology, cultural anthropology, and ethnography after graduating. He was a noted indigenous culture and pre-Columbian art ethnographer, filmmaker, and writer. Over his career, he:

• Conducted fieldwork across continents, photographing and filming native communities.
• Published articles and monographs on indigenous art forms and geological contexts.
• Organized cultural exhibitions for Tucson institutions, enhancing local appreciation of global traditions.
• Taught seminars at regional universities, bridging the sciences and humanities.

See’s efforts won him recognition in Tucson’s cultural scene, despite his few academic affiliations. He wrote for scholarly and popular periodicals and made documentaries on rituals and artisanal activities. No financial worth is publicly disclosed, suggesting a career in academics rather than business.

Rumors, Public Speculation, and Social Media

After marrying Linda Eastman, Joseph See’s life became rumored. A long-debunked fan myth said that Paul McCartney’s song “Get Back” referred See as “Jojo.” Beatles scholars uniformly dismissed this claim. In April 2000, a New York tabloid speculated about See’s suicide vs murder despite little proof. Since then, genealogy blogs and fan sites have revisited the “Jojo” legend and detailed his death, albeit their tales differ.

Death and Legacy

See, 62, committed himself at his Tucson home on March 19, 2000, with a gunshot wound. Beverly Wilk, his partner, survived him, and no suicide note was released. Tabloids reported his death, but official documents confirmed suicide and ruled out murder. See’s ethnographic films and articles remain in academic references and cultural retrospectives, preserving his contributions to indigenous art and customs.

FAQ

What were Joseph See’s main academic fields?

He specialized in geology and cultural anthropology, later focusing on ethnography, pre-Columbian art, and documentary filmmaking.

When and where was Joseph See born?

He was born on April 19, 1938, in Scarsdale, Westchester County, New York.

Who was Joseph See married to?

He married Linda Louise Eastman on June 18, 1962; they divorced in June 1965.

Who is his child and what is her background?

His daughter, Heather Louise See (born December 31, 1962), was later adopted by Paul McCartney and remains his only blood relative.

How did Joseph See die?

He died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound on March 19, 2000, at his home in Tucson, Arizona.

Did Joseph See have any siblings?

No siblings are publicly recorded; he was the only son of his parents.

What notable extracurriculars did he have at Princeton?

At Princeton, he was a member of Tiger Inn eating club, played on the 150 lb. varsity football team, and ran varsity cross-country.

References