I can’t begin to tell anyone how much I’m going to miss my brother. I think of all of the wonderful memories I have growing up having an older big brother to do things with. We always went  trout fishing on opening day (never caught a single fish), deer hunting on opening day (never saw a single deer), but we were together and had fun. When Russ and Sally first got married, Russ would come over for dinner Friday night because Sally worked late. Mom Massimino worried that he had to eat a good meal before a late night playing in the band, so dinner it was. I would wait all day for dinner, but more importantly, to race slot cars in the basement with my brother. As I got older, slot cars turned to real cars and hotrods. I was “improving” on Detroit’s design of the motor in my first car when dad noticed the car in pieces and called Russ. He showed up on Saturday morning just about the time I was ready to start the improved motor. I got quizzed on what I had done, but he was sure that it wasn’t right. You know brotherly love! I pushed the car out of the garage, getting razzed by my big brother the professional mechanic the entire time. Some gas down the carburetor, hit the key, and it roared to life. I looked at Russ who was trying to look surprised it started so easily, but I could tell he was proud of what his 17 year old little brother had done. He shouldn’t have been too surprised though, he taught me how to do this stuff! There’s so much more I could mention, it would be a book. Bottom line, I, like everyone who knew and loved him, am going to miss him dearly.

Keep making awesome music, Big Brother…

Dan