I am so grateful for every moment, every laugh, every show and every conversation I shared with Rusty. The memories of those many moments will stay with me forever and be a source of constant inspiration. My thoughts are with Alison and Nat, all of Rusty's family, and his countless admirers.

Dearest Rusty,
Nothing like you lighting up a room with your smile and songs. Will miss you muchly. Heaven is lucky. Love, Julie

Goodbye Rusty. I will always remember your wit, your smarts, your kindness, your charm, your cool, your talent and your adorableness. You've brought joy to so many lives.

Love to you Alison and Nat, my thoughts are with you.

Jeanne Dorsey

I will so miss the joy and laughter and light he brought to every moment of my life. I hear him singing "Brown Eyed Girl" always. La tee da...I love you Rusty...

Our love goes to his family and Allison and Nathanial... his grace and the love that surrounded him will guide you through this...

JG

Rusty was one of a kind, and we were all better off having known him. A big hug to Alison and Nat during this sad time. I'm glad I have recordings of Rusty that will make me smile everytime I listen to them.

Dear Alison, Please know that you and Nat are deeply in my thoughts. My last visit with you and Rusty meant a lot to me. I hold in deep respect the ways the two of you decided to live these final months of Rusty's life, and I thank you for allowing me to witness some of it. Warm regards, Evan

My love and prayers to Alison and Nat -- and my love to you Rusty! I adore you always, and admire you tremendously for your outrageous courage, humanity and humor - not to mention your talent. There's no one like you.

Nat - I remember when you and your Dad and a bunch of us were up in Maine for Jack Mason & Jessica Arkel's wedding. I remeber watching you and your Dad swimming in the freezing water, and him attracting a gaggle of kids because he was being so funny, and making it look like such fun. Mostly I remember the delight he took in your company, and the pleasure you gave him.

I thought, 'Wow! There's a Dad who really loves his kid."

May you and your Mom always feel his love,
and blessings to you both,

Amanda G.

All my thoughts and prayers are with Alison, Nat, and the entire family during this time.
Musical theatre has lost a great friend and artist in Rusty. May the good Lord and all the angels in Heaven rejoice in his arrival.

My heart goes out to Alison and Nat as I was just informed of Rusty's passing. I must admit, I only spoke to Rusty once - and it was very brief on the phone, but in listening to his music and reading what everyone has written (and spoken) about him, I know what a great loss not having him here is.

Alison and Nat, my love and prayers are with you...

When Mimi called yesterday to tell me you were gone, Rusty, I felt so many different things at once it was hard to speak. I felt relief that your suffering was past, that you had died with a kind of half grin on your face,surrounded by your friends and your amazing, brave family. And I felt such sadness in knowing you would never again drop round to a party and have the room gasping with laughter as you sang "It's going to be a Prozac Christmas...", that I couldn't dash down to the Westbank to catch you translating some outrageous French chanson or puzzling over the baffling and beautiful lyrics of a Tom Waites tune. And I felt so glad that I was able to spend a last evening together propped up beside you looking through photo albums, listening to your latest demos,making plans and marvelling at the expanse of life that stretched all around us. I remember feeling very low that day and thinking I shouldn't be visiting Rusty when I feel so bad - and you cheered me up - you filled me with peace and hope and contentment...You were so talented, Rusty, so utterly unique, so deeply, wildly, humanly funny. I'll miss you like crazy.