Fifty years ago, we met in Perugia, where we were both studying Italian at the Università per gli stranieri. He was brilliant and handsome; we were young and a couple in love in one of Italy's most beautiful cities.

He followed me to Berlin, where we separated.

We wrote to each other for a while, but there was too much distance between our lives.

I can't believe he's dead. 

Gedacht soll seiner sein.

I worked with Russ about 30 years ago and always considered him a great friend.  While we haven't seen each other in quite a while, he always sent me a birthday wish.  I hope Russ rests in peace.  My sincere condolences to Chris, Alex and his beautiful grandchildren.  May his memory be a blessing.

I didn't know Rusell well but I considered him a friend. On his walks through Hudson he would come by and visit me at the shop I work at and I looked forward to these sporadic meetings. As a fellow writer, I always appreciated his bawdy sense of humor, his reverence for poetry, and the suave way he carried himself. The last time I saw him he appeared pallid but his personality was not dulled in the least. My sincere condolences on your loss and may his memory be a blessing.  

We knew Russell through waves of decades. 'Good food. Good talks. Good sleeps.'

He was dear. He was a challenge. We miss him.