Starry Starry Night - Vincent Van Gogh

I remember that Jimmy really liked this painting

Baby Jimmy Russell...about 6 weeks old!

Hail to PITT!

Jim's freshman year at PITT...

Jim and Luke

Jim and Luke...taken in 2001!

My Uncle Jimmy!

My Uncle Jimmy was a good uncle because he was fun and funny! He made me laugh when he tickled me. I will always remember him. On Christmas, he liked the present I got him. It was a Mr. T cell phone. Uncle Jimmy gave me his Lord of the Rings calendar. Uncle Jimmy had the best hair-do! I remember how he would always tickle me and say "Bzzzt! Bzzzt!" like a bee. Umm...He would put me in boxes and push and carry me around. The best movie I ever watched with Uncle Jimmy was "Ice Age." Last Christmas he taught me Spider Solitaire on the computer. I was really good at it and I still know how to play. I miss my Uncle Jimmy and I love him too.

~Teah Gabrielle
7 years old

Jim's early morning practice...

6 am ice time, barely awake, but the crisp smell of the ice and coldness in the air ignites you inside. Your ice crunches as you begin to skate; you feel your edges glide through the ice. The ice is fast and soon you forget about the time....


Leah Limano

Bulldog Hockey!

Our #24!

The Boys!

Jim...Tim...and Andy

Just Chillin' on his 20th Birthday!

Ahhh! Keebler Grahams and a cold glass of milk!

Jim and Keebler "Straws"!

This really brings back memories! When Jim was 6 or 7 years old he came up with an ingenious little "dunk" for Keebler chocolate covered graham crackers! He nibbled opposite corners...just a wee nibble...and dunked the corner in a cup of ice cold milk...using the cookie as a straw, he would sip milk through the cookie and when it was full of milk...he would pop the whole thing in his mouth! Talk about a yummy little treat! Try it!

Russell and Keri again...

These were great days for Jim!

Russell and Keri...

Waiting for the Bus...

Gabe and Jimmy waiting for the bus one September morning...

The Little Chef...

A balsamic vinaigrette perhaps? No...just a concoction of mom's spices!

Jimmy "The Cook" Amato

This little boy did enjoy being in the kitchen...as far back as I can remember! As he grew older, he would hover over me when I was making sauce...he truly made a delicious sauce and many of his friends enjoyed his chicken marsala and chicken pesto. He also impressed more than a few parents with his stuffed mushrooms! In this photo, Jimmy is helping me make stuffed sausage bread! And even then he was "Shirtless".

Camo Marc, Michaelangelo Jimmy, and Cheerleader Leah... Every halloween for as long as I can remember all started at Sha Sha's house. We would go trick or treating at the plateau, get as much candy as we could, then set up shop to trade with each other. This picture is outside of the Baker's house, approximately 1988. I think Jim and I are in about 2nd grade, and Marc is in 4th. I have no idea how Sha Sha let me out of the house as a Penn State Cheerleader.

Mini-mite Jimmy!

Is this not the cutest picture? Jimmy was 4 1/2 years old and blended right into hockey since both big brothers played and Jimmy had been a little "rink rat" since he was 7 months old! He was so little that we put a hand towel on top of his head to keep the helmet above his eyes.

Jimmy on the beach

Nature boys revisited

It's been 6 months and 3 days and it hardly seems possible that the time has passed so quickly. I spent yesterday reflecting on some of my own special memories with my Jimmy and ended up on a back road in Cambridge Springs. When the boys were little and spent many nights bunking at Gramma & Papa's house in Cambridge I'd stop out to visit with them. At least every other week I'd round them up and ask who wanted to go "exploring" and Jim and his brother Gabe were usually in the back seat of my car before I could finish the sentence! Try as I might, I could never talk Frank into coming along but didn't have to ask twice with Jim or Gabe. Of course "exploring" was simply a trip to the pheasant farm up the road where we'd collect feathers or occassionally some bird bones and then we'd venture on to the less traveled back roads along French Creek. We'd hop out of the car, poke sticks in the mud, look for fish or turtles and pretend all sorts of things lived in that creek and could jump out at any moment...maybe even snakes! Oddly enough this time must have been before Jim developed his spider phobia because that never came up;). I went down that road yesterday and was feeling so very sad thinking about those times when it suddenly dawned on me...I have those special memories that not another single soul on this earth but we three have!! I realized that I need to be thankful for those memories I have and not dwell on what I'll miss. I have a treasure chest full of "hugs and kisses" and wonderful times spent together. Thank you, Jimmy!

"Letter to Mom"

Mom, please don't feel guilty
It was just my time to go.
I see you are still feeling sad,
And the tears just seem to flow.

We all come to earth for our lifetime,
And for some it's not many years
I don't want you to keep crying
You are shedding so many tears.

I haven't really left you
Even though it may seem so.
I've just gone to my heavenly home,
And I'm closer to you than you know.

Just believe that when you say my name
I'm standing next to you.
I know you long to see me,
But there's nothing I can do.

But I'll still send you messages
And hope you understand,
That when your time comes to "cross over",
I'll be there to take your hand.

Another great memory with Pitt's loyal sons...

This was a wonderful night....it was incredibly cold and we brought no food....but we did have our beer! We scoured through the throng of students and warmed ourselves by their fires! I remember seeing Anita, Creature Matt and Amy and Carrie Leech among Jimmy's friends. As we huddled around the fire, I remember asking Jim to introduce me to Donny from Big Brother...of course the real highlight was the fact Pitt won! What fun!

After a Pitt Game...2004!

This a great photo of Jim and Anita! I am sure this was a post game moment last fall...I love the headband... those curls...the smile...even that green t-shirt! We will be thinking of you today as Pitt prepares to kick off against Notre Dame! And I know in my heart that you, Jimmy, are entertaining the crowd in that student section today! Hail to Pitt!!! Hail to Pitt!

An Angel Walks Beside Us

Angels live forever

far beyond our days on earth,

and every soul receives

an angel guardian at birth.

Invisible, these angels

never leave us, day or night.

They know our fears

and whisper,

"Things are going to be all right."

They give us strength

and purpose,

keep our hope and courage strong,

they fill our minds

with wisdom

and our spirits with a song.

And when the time

in this world comes

to reach our journey's end,

our angel walks beside us

like a kind, familiar friend.

And as we leave behind

the only place

we've ever known,

we see our angel's smile

at last and hear

"You're home...you're home."


...we all can find comfort on this six month anniversary in knowing that Jimmy did not leave this world alone....he was gently guided by his loving angel and greeted with open arms by his Gramma, Papa and Pap! God has blessed our Jim.