It is with profound sadness that we share the passing of Joel MacIntosh, a visionary leader whose decades-long dedication helped shape the real estate technology landscape. Joel passed away on July 1st after a courageous battle with ALS.
Joel and I first met at Shattuck-St. Mary’s, a preparatory boarding school in Faribault, Minnesota, where he was one year behind me in 8th grade as I started 9th grade. It was there that we built a lifelong friendship that would carry us through decades of professional collaboration and personal connection. After my tenure on the Board of Trustees, Joel volunteered to fill my position which he carried until his passing. His contributions to Shattuck-St. Mary’s will never be forgotten.
As the founder and CEO of Wolfnet, and later through its successful merger with OjO Labs, Joel was instrumental in modernizing real estate technology and pioneering IDX. His forward-thinking leadership built critical bridges between traditional industry practices and the emerging digital ecosystem, empowering countless professionals with tools and platforms that remain essential today.
Joel’s impact went far beyond technology. Colleagues and friends alike remember him as a collaborator with extraordinary strategic insight, an innovator who led with authenticity and empathy. His commitment to excellence and his ability to spot and nurture innovation made him a respected voice and a trusted partner throughout the industry. When you think of people who operate on the basis of trust and honor, you think of Joel.
Those privileged to work alongside Joel saw firsthand his unique ability to navigate complex challenges while never losing sight of the human relationships that drive real estate’s success. His leadership during Wolfnet’s growth and its strategic merger with OjO Labs demonstrated his rare gift for building bridges — across companies, technologies, and communities.
Joel is survived by his beloved wife, Jennie MacIntosh, and children Oscar, Cade, and Marlo. Our daughter Alexandra (Sparkles) thought of Joel as an uncle, and Marilyn thought of Joel as a brother. His indelible legacy will continue to inspire and guide us all for years to come, and his memory will live on in the many lives he touched.
The real estate technology community has lost a pioneer, a leader, and a friend. Joel MacIntosh’s contributions will never be forgotten.
Service details: Monday July 14th at 11 am at Mercy Hill Church, Minnetonka, MN. Followed by a second service on Tuesday July 15th at 1 PM at Chapel of the Good Shepherd, Stattuck-St. Mary’s Campus, Faribault, MN.
I once showed Joel my original 1 page contract with Wolfnet for an IDX feed in 1999. Eric and I had a wonderful 20 year partnership with Joel. This is sad sad news and I hold his family in my heart.
This is a gut punch. Joel was one of my favorite clients when I was at Inman News. He made our negotiation conversations fun and I was always glad to see him at industry events. My deepest condolences to everyone who loved Joel, especially his family and kids.
Well said Victor and we will miss Joel immensely. He s a special man , Godspeed Mac
I met him back in 2003 I believe. Was a Wolfnet customer back then through my software company. Boy, this hurts.
This is heart breaking. I have such fond memories of working with Joel at Wolfnet – he brought a lot of character to everything he touched. I loved his crazy stories. He was a data cowboy – an authentic entrepreneur, one of a kind. I will miss him.
I worked with Joel as our provider when I first got into real estate in the early 2000’s… as is clearly seen by all the comments, here and elsewhere – he was a gem of a human. I’m so sorry that so many had to say goodbye to him so young. My heart goes out to his family and kids.
Lovely article, Victor! ”Authenticity and empathy” resonated with me when I read it. A very fine man.
Victor- thank you for the sweet reminder of how wonderful a person Joel was. He was a straight-up person- always willing to provide ideas and help this crazy industry move forward. He and I had our differences but always with a smile and a laugh and his desire to make things better. He was an MLS Data pioneer and we will miss his energy. Shine on Joel!
So sad to hear, Victor. Joel was someone I always enjoyed seeing at industry events over the years. We partnered with Joel and Wolfnet when I was at Point2. I had the pleasure of interviewing Joel a few times after we sold Point2, and it was always a highlight for John Reilly and I. Sincerest condolences to Joel’s family and friends. We will all miss his presence. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFYs1W_C-DY
Joel and I worked closely together in the years following the adoption of the IDX standard to implement a national IDX system for Keller Williams. I spent time in his office with him and his team, and worked with the WolfNet team for three years, expanding the footprint of the WolfNet products to 300 markets. Joel was terrific professionally and loved by his team and by our team at Keller Williams. He and I had a friendship that developed from those years in the trenches, and I could not have been happier for him when he successfully sold WolfNet and was able to move to a new chapter in his life and business. I am very sad to hear of his passing, as he was one of the good ones – a partner to rely on, a friend to call on, and someone who always brought a smile and a sense of humor to this journey we are all on together called “life”. I know he will be missed by many, and I am only sorry we didn’t have more time to share a laugh and good times.