Remembering Jim Russell yesterday (May 5, 2020) on the 50 Anniversary of Kent State, gave me cause to remember others from my youth.  I find it sad that there were no comments attributed to Gerry.  Gerry was my first girlfriend.  Not that dating was easy in 9th grade in the early 60s.  I would ride my bike to her house.  Our time together was mostly spending time in the game room of her parents house or an occasional dinner at the Upper St. Clair Country Club.  We sometimes would go to Debbie Schramm's house, Gerry's friend.  I was impressed with Debbie's playhouse in the backyard.  My 10th grade was spent at Greenbrier Military School.  Upon my return, Gerry was dating a friend of mine, Rob Eannarino.  There were no hard feelings.  We all continued to be friends with good memories.  Gerry was a warm fun loving girl.  Her passing was tragic at such an early age. 

Jim Russell and I were good friends through our junior high and senior high school days.  If nothing else he was entertaining.  I listened to him talk about his  crushs on the girls, of which he had many.  Most went unnoticed by the focus of his attention.  He would sing the Beach Boys "Barbara Ann" daily as we walked to school every morning on Greenhurst Dr. and pasted Barbara's house.  He talked me into driving him to Shagrin Falls, Ohio to see Janet Jamison one Saturday.  He neglected to tell her we were coming.  She was out for day.  I was with him when he was running and tripped stabbing himself in the shoulder with a sharpened pencil.  I was living in Columbus, Ohio when he was shot at Kent State.  He was shot in the leg and had a pellet (he told me it was bird shot ) lodged under the skin above his one ear.  He was taken to the local hospital for treatment, when federal agents appeared onsite.  An orderly, escorted Jim to an exit to avoid any situation that might present itself.  Jim made his way to my place in Columbus where he stayed for a few days.  He was headed to the Dakotas for the annual motorcycle rally and wanted me to travel with him.  I was working and unable to go.  I also lost track of Jim.  Sue Devlin was kind enough to let me know of Jim's life and his passing.  Through this website,  Spence Wells, Eric Peterson and I reconnected.  Eric told me by chance he ran into Jim years ago in Oregon.  They were both living there about 50 miles apart.  I regret losing track of Jim.  I am grateful for the time we shared.      

Thanks Eric. Yes, I was told about Jim a few years ago, Jim and Art had some emails going back and forth. The emails were sent to me when notification of his passing were received by the website. Sue Devlin was very kind by sending me notice.

After all these years, it is amazing how many people are turning up alive and well on this website. Spense turned up a few months ago. I received some emails between Jim Russell and Art Ruprecht stating the two of you were in OR. I have a stepdaughter living in Portland. I left Pgh. on the run back in the 60s never expecting to return. In the early 70s I took a job back Pgh. It was my plan to stay 2 yrs before moving south to warmer weather. Funny how things work out....I am still in Pgh. rpierce46@yahoo.com

Posted on: Feb 20, 2015 at 3:59 PM

Mike, was back in the old neighborhood today and thought of you. Rick