Dear Alison and Nat--

My deepest condolences to you and the rest of Rusty's family on this great loss to the world. I shall be forever inspired by his talent, divine sense of humor, loving spirit and bravery.

You are in my thoughts and prayers.
With love, John Haber

To Rusty's Family......

We send much love to your family at this time. My children (Osage and Kimani) are part of the 52nd Street Project Family and Rusty's Music and Sense of Humor (especially with the "Rasta Magee concept) will always stay alive in our hearts and minds.

Peace & Many Blessings

The Lewis-Ashley Family

rusty

we toasted you at the west bank at midnight on sunday, clenched our fists over your passing, laughed at our stories of you, hugged each other with the knowledge that we all had a version of the same memory in us. we each have a piece of a rusty magee tune weaving through us, through each other.

thanks for the soundtrack of these past years. you set our saturday nights to music

i'll miss you bro

mason

dear alison and nat,

i had the pleasure of getting to know rusty during moonwork's production of a midsummer night's dream in which i played helena. just before he died i sent a letter to him at an upper west side address. im not sure it was received, but in it i mentioned how much he had touched my life even though i was only on the perifery of his. gifts like carole ingber and the 52nd street project are hard to come by. and they came into my life because rusty magee was in my life. not to mention the gift that rusty himself was, with his music and his laughter and his immense, palpable love for his family.

my thoughts and prayers are with you both.

love catherine

Alison and Family.....My deepest, deepest condolences to you all. There are no words to ease the pain at this time but please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.

My sister emailed me the sad news. Rusty would appreciate the fact that at first I thought she meant Rusty Taub. She knows I like the Mets. But then I realized"Oh No!" He was my favorite performer in "The Irish and How They Got That Way." Plus I loved "The Green Heart". I'm a theatre critic in N.Y. and jaded as I am I always liked Rusty's work. There are only a handful of people out there that when you see there name in the program you relax because you know you're in for a great evening of theatre. He will be sorely missed and my condolences to the family. Theatre won't be nearly as melodic or fun now. Eva Heinemann

Dearest Alison and Nat,
I don't know if you will remember me, I played Maria in Moonworks' What You Will...Rusty's was the first face I saw every night in that show, and Thank god, because I had to play his music on the piano onstage, and I was terrified. Thank God also for his coaching me in accompanying myself singing his "Item" song. Never did I know I would have the balls to do that in front of an audience, play and sing at the same time, but he acted like it was the most natural thing in the world for me to do, and because of his absolute warm confidence in me, did I sink in my teeth and chew.
Never have I felt more welcome or safe with a human being on the stage, or just in a room for that matter, Never more unconditionally accepted or loved and I confess I cannot even begin to imagine how devastating his loss would be to me if I had spent my life with him as my dad, or my husband; you have my deepest sympathy. I feel so sad, he was my friend, I could never forget him if I tried.
May he watch over you both, and the rest of us down here, floundering.
And, Rusty, I hope to Heaven to learn by your example of living so joyfully and faithfully and shamelessly, brilliantly shining your light on everything so that everyone around you appears to be lit up too, because they feel so beautiful. Thank you. Love you, miss you, (Please meet my Dad out there and tell him I love him and miss him too).

Julie Dingman

Alison and Nat and The Extended Family:

You are so brave and have taught me so much about the power of living. Rusty was and is in my heart forever -- for the past few days all of his music at once is in and around me -- this website is a beautiful living tribute to such a glorious friend.

Love,

Nancy

Dear Alison, Nat and extended family, I met Rusty working on WHAT YOU WILL, and from our first greeting I was charmed by his energy and constant positive enthusiasm. When I started working with him I saw he shared that spirit with everyone around him- it was a contagious gift. I have always deeply admired his talent, strength and kindness and feel proud to have known him.

Our deepest sympathies to you during this difficult time. You are in our hearts and prayers.

Margaret Nichols and Alexander Alioto

Rusty, you made me laugh, kiddo. Your ebullience, your sweetness, your mischieviousness, your goofiness ... you never failed to make us smile. And your music, Rusty. Love your music. Wherever you are, ROCK ON, baby!! To you and your family, so much aloha. Love, Alison Lani Broda