Author Unknown

Loving you always,
Pietrina, Nancy, Richard, Geraldine,
Michael II, Joseph and Grace

Bradley Tyler

With everlasting love and memories.
Nancy

There's two things he knew for sure:
She was sent here from heaven and she was Daddy's little girl.
Stickin' little white flowers all up in her hair.
"Walk, beside the pony, Daddy, it's my first ride."
"I know the cake looks funny, Daddy, but I tried."
Oh, with all that I've done, I must have done something right to deserve her hugs and Butterfly Kisses.

Sweet sixteen, she's looking like her momma a little more every day.
One part woman, the other part girl.
To perfume and makeup, from ribbons and curls, trying her wings out in a great big world.
But I will always remember her Butterfly Kisses.

Daddy, you know how much I love you.
Daddy if you don't mind, I'm only going to kiss you on the cheek this time.
With everything I've done, I must have done something right to deserve her love and Butterfly Kisses.

All the precious time, like the wind, the years go by.
She'll be admitted to the bar today.
She'll make a promise, and I'll share her with the world.
Standing in the courthouse foyer, she asks "what am I thinking" and I say "I'm not sure, I just feel like I'm losing my baby girl." Then she leaned over and whispered in my ear and gave me her love and...Butterfly Kisses... with her momma there.
"Walk me into the courtroom Daddy." "Don't cry."

With all that I've done, I must have done something right
to deserve her love and Butterfly Kisses...

I couldn't ask God for more, man, this is what love is,
I know I've gotta let her go now, and share her with the world.
but I'll always remember... her love... and Butterfly Kisses...

Though you are not here now
You are here.
Though my eyes do not behold you
My thoughts retain your vision.
Though my arms do not embrace you
My Spirit won't let you go.
And though my heart cries out to me,
Wishing your presence,
Here, Now
I have the consolation of knowing that
Mentally, I can behold you,
And
Spiritually, I can embrace you.
M.D. Rubin

Dad, you are in my heart always.
Love, Geri

As kids we went to his pool for a swim,
He warmly welcomed all friends and kin.

His hospitality made us all feel at home,
In his eyes, the love for his family shone.

Family reunions he held at his house on the 4th of July,
Though he appeared gruff, he was a softie and would easily cry.

Boardwalks, beaches and those Wildwood days,
He even supported our Tom Jones craze.

He loved good food, but hated flying by jet,
More of a family man, I have never met.

Nancy, Richard and Geraldine were the loves of his life,
on Charles Road, he lived simply and happily with his wonderful wife.

"Ernie the Attorney" was a moral, professional man,
He emphasized scholastics and integrity to Richard, Geri and Nan.

Uncle Babe exemplified sensitivity, honor and all the best human traits,
For his grandchildren, he would do anything, for them he rates.

Michael and Joseph were the apples of his eye,
It was so difficult for us all to say goodbye.

Uncle Babe, you will live in our hearts forever,
Our memories of you, we will always treasure!!

Love, your niece,
Vera

How will he remember her?
To him, she was always Miss Imlay.

What would he say to her,
To the ones he served,
When her teaching days were through,
And she walked through the door.

Miss Imlay had a favorite.
She smiled when he was down.
She made him feel that he was loved.
While she had jewels in her crown.

And yet one priceless accolade,
Out-sparkles all the rest.
A single phrase sums up those days:
"His teacher gave him her best."

Through the years he became,
Her advisor, confidant, friend and attorney.
It all started one bright sunny day,
When, with surprise, she walked through the door.

"Ernest, I'm Mrs. Mosier,
Your kindergarten teacher."

"No, he replied,
"You are not my kindergarten teacher,
I had Miss Imlay."

"But Ernest, I am Miss Imlay."

Her picture of kindergarten years,
Still sits on the desk,
As his portrait overlooks that
room that was so much him in later years,
where he, too, became a teacher,
of law and life.

Miss Imlay,
Thank you for the memories,
the love,
the remembrances,
the laughs,
the chats,
the stories,
the Christmas greetings,
the friendship,
being a part of my father's life,
being a part of our life.
Through him, you will not be forgotten,
and, to us,
you will always be,
Miss Imlay.

Fondly,
Nancy Russo

Seventy-three years ago a baby boy was born to Elvira and Arthur Russo at 732 Columbus Avenue, Phillipsburg. He was given the name Ernest-named after his uncle, my father. Ernest was the fourth child born in the respective Russo families of brothers Arthur and Ernest. To distinguish him from the three Russo children born before him, family members, friends and neighbors referred to him as "Baby Russo." As time passed and two more Russos were born into the families, this affectionate name was shortened to "Babe." To those of us in the family and to his close friends and neighbors, this name remained with him for his entire life.

Babe grew up on Columbus Avenue, attended and graduated from Brensinger Grade School. I remember him in those days as one of the popular kids at school and on Pursel Hill. He was always a leader among kids in his age group. Many of the friendships made during those formidable years continued with him for a lifetime. It was just a few weeks ago that he told me a story about two of his grade school teachers with whom he still remained in touch after all of these years.

Shortly after graduation from grammar school, Babe's family (his father, mother, and brothers John and Bill) moved from Columbus Avenue to New York City. This was quite a cultural shock for young Babe, as you can imagine. For a thirteen year old from Phillipsburg to assimilate with kids his age in New York City in l938 was no easy task. I personally experienced this difficult assimilation process two years earlier, so I couldn't help admire the ease with which he handled it. His youthful personality and character which he developed in Phillipsburg, served him well, winning him a place in the social order of the young in the city neighborhood-something significant in the New York City scheme of things.

Soon after his family's arrival, Babe enrolled at DeWitt Clinton High School in the Bronx, one of the premier schools in New York at the time. He did very will matriculating at Clinton High, as he did at Brensinger. He was always a very good student.

As well as he did in school and as well as he did assimilating into the New York lifestyle, Babe always had a longing to return to Phillipsburg-the town of his roots. He never really became a true New Yorker.

Upon graduation from DeWitt Clinton High School and at the urging of his father, he enrolled at Lafayette College thereby leaving his family in New York and returning to Phillipsburg. It was back to Columbus Avenue where he lived with grandmom and grandpop and with cousin Anthony.

Anthony, still attending Phillipsburg High School at the time, was influenced by Babe and eventually followed him to Lafayette College.

Babe didn't start out to be a lawyer. Some of you may be surprised to learn that after graduation from Lafayette, he enrolled at the University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry. However, after a short spell at that school, he came to realize that the dental profession wasn't really his calling.

It was at this point in time when he decided, after counseling with his father, that his future was in the field of law. He was soon admitted to Rutgers University School of law, along with Anthony, who, having graduated Lafayette, was following in Babe's footsteps. Babe and Anthony lived together during those years at Rutgers at the local YMCA, just three blocks from the school.

Three years later, Babe became the first of the Russos to graduate from law school. It was back to Phillipsburg immediately upon graduation, and the establishment of a law practice that spanned forty-five years. My uncle, Arthur, still alive at the time, was extremely proud of his son's accomplishments.

Babe's personality and character served him well in his practice. His early clients were many of the friends and neighbors with whom he grew up and lived. His understanding of the problems of others, his compassion for their problems, his sincerity, and his high ethical standards served him well.

As time passed, now happily married to Beatrice and the proud father of Nancy, Richard and Geraldine, he became the patriarch of the tightly knit Russo families. Those of my generation and the next migrated to him with our problems for his counseling and words of wisdom.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention Babe's devotion to his father, the principal influence upon his life, who was seriously ill for some twenty years before he died. He looked after his father during those trying times with the same devotion and dedication as his three children, looked after him during his time of crisis.

Babe was a proud father and grandfather. Nancy and Richard followed him into the field of law and eventually became his partners in the law firm of Russo, Russo & Russo, where Geraldine serves as manager. How much prouder can a father be!

And yet, in spite of all of these accomplishments in his family, as far as Babe was concerned, the best was yet to come-the birth of his two grandsons-Michael and Joseph- the "apples" of his eyes. A prouder grandfather you never met.

You did well Babe.

God speed!

Your cousin,
Arthur "Sonny" Russo
July 28, l998