2996 Innocent Victims: I am blessed to honor Wayne Alan Russo (Jan. 5, 1964 - Sept. 11, 2001)

....Thank you to Wayne's sister, Lynne, for giving me a window into Wayne's beautiful life. The relationship you shared and the love you had for each other is admirable. I read this poem (The Dash), and saw the powerpoint, on the very day you made contact with me. I feel like Wayne had his hand on my shoulder as I read it -- so I chose to remember him, while reciting this beautiful poem. I hope my tribute makes you proud.

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I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend
He referred to the dates on his tombstone from the beginning...to end
He noted that first came the date of his birth
and spoke of the following date with tears.

...Wayne was born on January 5, 1964, in Union, New Jersey to Arlene and Arthur Russo. He was the first child. Wayne was a very bald baby and really didn't have much hair for several years. His Great Aunt Elvira told his mother that if you brush up the peach fuzz on the back of his head every time you give him a bath, he will have curly hair. So his mother did that faithfully whenever she gave Wayne a bath, and sure enough, all of a sudden these thick gorgeous curls started coming in.

But he said what mattered most of all
was the dash between the years.

Growing up Wayne was a special kid. He loved his little sister, Lynne...who was born one year and five days after Wayne. They grew up being the best of friends, telling each other everything, sharing a passion for attending concerts together. He loved animals, especially his cat. His parents were loving and kind and family time was always cherished.

For that dash represents all the time that he spent alive on earth
And now only those who loved him know what the little line is worth.

Wayne was the kind of person you couldn't help but love. People always wanted to be around him and he had tons of friends. He was also very kind, compassionate and generous. The kind of man that you never had to ask twice for anything.

For it matters not how much we own
...the cars...the house...the cash...

Wayne was a successful person. He went to college at New York University and graduated with a business degree in 1987. He soon started to work for Fred S. James, an insurance company, in midtown Manhattan. Through several mergers and acquisitions, Wayne ended up at Marsh & McLennan at the World Trade Center in November 1999. Wayne loved New York City.

Here is Wayne at NYU

What matters is how we live and love
...and how we spend our dash.

Wayne loved his family. He loved children and children loved him. He was anxiously awaiting his niece, Jordan. He would comment about his excitement in becoming a "real" uncle instead of the adopted one for all his friends' children.

So think about this long and hard
Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left
That can still be rearranged.

Wayne was on the 98th floor of Tower One. He was very close to where the first plane hit. It is the family's true belief that he died quickly before realizing the terror of the day.



Yet that day left his loved ones in a state of shock and despair.

If we could just slow down enough to consider what's true and real
And always try to understand the way other people feel

Through Wayne's love of travel (he had been to Japan, China, Greece, Spain, France, Ecuador and Italy), he grew to love the people of the world. He sponsored a child in Africa, sending money and letters, without anyone knowing. He was quiet in his grace, dignified in his life, and loved like few others.

Wayne in Greece
Wayne in India
Wayne in Italy

And be less quick to anger and show appreciation more
And love the people in our lives, like we've never loved before.

One week before his death, he accompanied family to the New York Yankees game where they beat the Boston Red Sox. The very night before was spent at his house that he shared with his parents, having dinner together and planning for a trip to Italy with his father. When they said good night to him that evening, no one would have imagined it being his last night with them. It's a true blessing it was surrounded in love and happiness.

If we treat each other with respect and more often wear a smile
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.

He had a great sense of humor --turning anything into a funny situation. He loved the Three Stooges. His smile was perfect and always worn. He had a passion for music...loving all kinds, but particularly KISS and AC/DC. He was the drummer in a band called Stetz. He danced a "brother/sister" dance at Lynne's wedding to AC/DC's "Shook Me All Night Long."

So when your eulogy is being read, with your life's actions to rehash
Would you be proud of the things they say...
about how you spent your dash?

Wayne died on September 11, 2001. On April 10, 2002, Wayne's family were informed that some of Wayne's remains had been identified. He leaves behind his parents (Arlene and Arthur), his sister and family (Lynne, Mario, Jordan and Justin--both children have Wayne's name as a middle name), as well as extended family and an enormous number of friends. Apparently, loving Wayne was easy to come by, simply because he loved life.



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And, to Wayne --

Thank you. Thank you for touching my life by allowing me to learn about yours. Please know that your life is so much more than the way that it ended -- that the thoughts of you are continual for so many not only in association with 9/11. Thank you for somehow master planning Lynne's contact with me. I have read pages and pages about you and your beautiful life. It is a true tragedy that you are not walking next to your loved ones, at least in the earthly sense, but thank you for showing you are near them in so many ways. Please continue to watch over your family, especially your sister, and help her to heal. Please let her understand that the hole in her heart will probably never completely close, but she can still be okay. She will never forget you. Your parents will never forget you. And, I, some woman in Arizona whom you've never met will never ever forget you, either.