Jamie et. al.,
Very saddened by the news of Rusty's passing. I had the distinct honor and pleasure of meeting Rusty in NYC and attending at least one of his shows. He was a funny and very talented man. Our thoughts and prayors are with all of you.

YITB
Buck

Alison and Nat,
I did not know Rusty very well, although he was always very friendly to me. I wish I had known him better. I tended bar at a lot of Moonwork nights that Rusty closed and I was always amazed at the way that he could entertain and move an audience and share his music. He could take a song that everyone had heard a thousand times, like 'Brown Eyed Girl' and make it seem like it was something that had been made just for that crowd on that one night, and people would sing along like it was theirs. It takes someone with a spirit like Rustys to be able to do that to a room. And reading his memorial I found out about all the things he had done and ways that he and his music reached people in too short of a time. I am very sorry for your loss.

Whenever I needed to be reminded of what truly matters in life,I thought of Rusty. Talked to him, listened to him, watched him. He was my neighbor; I am wildly lucky to have been in such close proximity to such a bundle of passionate life. Rusty was always cheerful, happy, upbeat, long before he became ill. I had the privilge of sharing his address for 8 years before he was diagnosed. And when he was faced with cancer, he became himself even more fully. He always looked ahead; never gave up hope; never lost his sense of humor; continued to cling all the more tightly to all that was dear to him in life,because the knowledge that he might lose it made it all the more urgent. But what is even more amazing is that Rusty never needed to be reminded of the treasures that comprised his life. He always knew--didn't need to become ill to remind him.
For Alison, and for Nat,and for all who knew him, I am heartbroken. Nat, I hope you will consider babysitting for our daughter Molly, who is 7, and who knows exactly who you are. The other day when I was telling her about your dad being sick, she said "He's always so cheerful!" I'm sure there were many times when he wasn't...but the message he gave to all of us was life affirming, always.
It was an honor to know Rusty. And I am lucky to know the family he helped create, including the large orange cat who visits me uninvited when I take out the garbage on a somewhat frequent basis. I will always bring her (?!) safely home.

Dear Alison and Nat. You are in my thoughts and prayers as you go through this very sad (perhaps sometimes difficult) time. I was a classmate of Rusty's at Exeter, where we shared an interest in theatre and music. I have a very vivid memory of Rusty from the summer after we gradated from Exeter. I was in Detroit going stir crazy while my Dad attended a dental convention. Rusty came and scooped me up and brought me to Ann Arbor, where I spent one night in what was then clearly a house of men only (I remember Rusty trolling for sheets for me and finding a somewhat rumpled, and I hoped at the time clean set, in the wee hours of the morning). Rusty showed me around the Michigan campus and we talked about how excited we both were to be starting college in the fall. We also went to a bar (my first ever!) and I remember laughing, laughing, lauging with Rusty and feeling oh so grown up with my buddy from school. I am truly sorry that we lost touch once we got involved in our college lives. I have followed Rusty's career through Class Notes and was so happy (and a bit envious -- since I chose the law) that he took the risk, and leap, to commit to a career in the arts. And, what a success he was. I just looked in my Exeter yearbook and I found that I had glued in a photo of Rusty because his picture was missing from the final printed book -- clear evidence that he was a friend whose face I never wanted to forget. And, indeed, I never will. Peace.

Alison & Nat, I went to school with Rusty at both Eaglebrook and Exeter. We were very good friends. I only spoke a few times to him since leaving Exeter, but he was the same full of laughter, full of song and full of life person I remembered. We spoke about getting together in NYC and he wanted to introduce me to both of you (probably to tell you stories about our school days).
There are certain people we meet in our lifetime who always seem close no matter how many miles or how much time elapses. I felt that way with Rusty. I spoke to him once about previous lifetimes because I was doing regressions and involved with that work in England. He knew what I knew, that it doesn't end here. I feel your loss Alison & Nat, and I send you all my love during this difficult time. If you ever need anything don't hesitate to email me. Rusty was special and will always be so.
David

It is hard to express the depth of loss I feel knowing that I will not see Rusty again, or laugh with him again, or enjoy his great talent. Speaking for myself, I offer his family my most sincere condolences. I must, as a member of his class at Phillips Exeter, and a member of our 30th reunion committee on which Rusty was serving, also say that without question, Rusty was one of the most popular members of our class. Everyone leaving comments here will not need an explanation as to why this was so. His popularity was enduring. It lasted long past our graduation, as he continued to lend his support to the school and to his classmates. We were blessed to have him among us, and considered his life's work one of the treasures of our education. In all honesty, even when he was handed the worst "script" (when it came to entertaining alumni),he knew how to turn things around and get everybody smiling! He was a good show backed by a exceptional heart and mind.

Dear Rusty,
You've gone on to play that golden piano with those ivory keys. Keep the harps hoppin' and the joint jumpin'! You did much good and god bless you and your family.
Ben Davis '73 (Instalment Hall)

Dear Alison & Nat,

How lucky I was to have known Rusty during my New York/Westbank years. His joyous spirit, and loving heart will remain with me always. He was a great teacher and the most supportive person I knew.
Alison, I salute your courage, strength and grace. You're an amazing woman and Mother. I hope our paths cross again in the near future - til then, I will hold you and Nat in my thoughts and prayers.
Love - Colleen Dodson (Dodson-Baker)

Dear Alison & Nat:

I am sending you love and prayers. I have so many amazing memories of Rusty that I will treasure forever.

From my earliest at the West Bank: Here was Rusty, so generous a performer, that he encouraged and complimented the work of so many young comedians, when our talents paled in comparison to his.

Rusty at Yankee Stadium, so agitated that his beloved Tigers were getting beaten, screaming "Phil Garner, you suuuuuuck!"

Rusty, amazing Dad at Shawnee, in the batting cages with Nat. Buying Nat fireworks. At the dinner table, clowning with ketchup and pretending he'd cut his lip with a butter knife.

Rusty, amazing Husband, searching all the stores for more and more and more birthday gifts for beautiful Alison.

Rusty, amazing friend, who never tired of talking baseball, whether in his attic amid his memorabilia collection, or in our last conversation, where all I wanted to do was savor his voice, his words. And Rusty, typical, wanted to know how I was doing, and what I thought was going to happen next season.

Darling, beautiful man, I will miss you so very much.

Alison and Nat, thank you for sharing Rusty with me.

Love, Liz

For me Rusty's version of "Brown Eyed Girl" will alway be definitive. How sad I was to learn of his passing. Those years I spent downstairs behind the bar in the West Bank were some of the happiest of my life. Who needed Saturday Night Live or Letterman. We had Rusty and Lewis and the best damn show in town every week live on stage.

Though I have moved on from that time I will miss Rusty. My deepest condolances to Alison and Nat. There are no words I can offer you except that Rusty will be remembered.