Russell M. Alessi Sr.

Mr. Alessi was born in Buffalo and was a longtime resident of Williamsville. He was a graduate of Lafayette High School and received a pharmacology degree from the University of Buffalo. He served in the U. S. Army Reserves. Mr. Alessi was a pharmacist at Quality Market Pharmacy, Lisbon Bailey Revco Drug, Rite Aid Pharmacy, Highgate Pharmacy and Lockport Medicine Shop. He retired from full-time pharmacy work in 2008. He was a member of the Pharmacy Association of Western New York, Holy Name Society and St. Benedict Parish. He was an avid Bills, Sabres and Yankees fan, and enjoyed discussing politics, reading, watching war movies and westerns, and spending time at his summer residence in Sherkston Shores, Ont. Survivors include his wife, Judy; four daughters, Nadine A. Beacham, Elaine M. Ramesh, Diane R. Phelps and Marlene J. Seifert; three sons, Russell M. Jr., Christopher D. and Timothy P.; and a brother, Louis J. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9:30 a. m. Friday in St. Benedict Catholic Church, 1317 Eggert Road, Eggertsville.

Although you are no longer here, I feel your presence very near. I didn’t have a chance to say good-bye which really makes me want to cry. As I write this something doesn’t feel right, it seems as though you’ll be back tonight. God called you to a special place to be with him at rest and in his grace. A few fond memories I will share, like the way you would sit in your chair watching Bills, Sabres, and Yankees, too. Sports for Dad were of super import. “I’ll call you back the game is on,” I understood even when the Bills weren’t that good! “Wait, it’s almost half time! I’ll call you back.” Never, never interrupt a game when talking to Dad! You had away with words and could joke with anyone always making conversation fun. You loved to travel and did your best when we were young. You may not remember, but I sure do, our big round trip by VW. We went to California in a little yellow van. All nine in a motel room, some on the floor….(most of us on the floor) off the next day to explore. We saw the Grand Canyon, the beautiful Painted Desert, the Petrified Forest, even Tijuana, Mexico. Thank you, Dad! We all thought that you would get better and re-cooperate, but unfortunately that was not your fate. Our hearts are saddened by your loss, so sudden and not ever in our thought. Bye Dad, we love you so. It is so very hard to let you go… Life takes us on a crazy ride with bumps and twists that we can’t expect until the car breaks slam on. The ride is over, get out my friend. If only we could have a chance, to ride the ride one more time. A little advice to you my friends, show people you love them before the ride ends. Dad you will live on in us forever.

Eulogy to Dad from Russ Jr.

Dad, we never thought this day would come so quickly, however we know you are in a place that is far better than anywhere in this world. “Tempis Fugit “or Time flies as you used to always say! Although you said your Army buddies had another way of saying this which I am not at liberty to repeat. The last time I wrote a eulogy was two years ago; it was for my father-in-law and Dad you were seated in the pews... I just recently learned from a friend who sat with you that day, that you said “He is pretty good at that, but I sure hope he doesn’t get to exercise that talent for me to soon. “Well Dad I am sorry, that this time came sooner than any of us would have liked, but am truly honored to say goodbye to the best guy I have ever known.

Though most people do not realize it or think about it, our stay here on this Earth compared to our time in Our Father’s eternal kingdom, it is like a short Stay in a bad hotel. Maybe even like the one in LA where we got stuck when you took us on our epic Bicentennial CA family vacation. The Hell’s Angels were across the street, I was nine years old but I didn’t care, I slept like a rock because Dad was there. Everybody who knew you will truly miss you and think of you often. I know you would not want us to stay miserable and depressed and that life must go on. We will never forget your great sense of humor and I think I remember at least a dozen jokes you would constantly repeat over the years. Yes Father Joe, my Dad had such a sense of humor that it was even possible for him to crack a joke about the bad hair piece of the poor parishioner sitting in front of him. I think he occasionally had some help from Uncle Joe who has been with him in these pews for years. Dad entertained and joked with countless people over the years.

Dad you were a Great father, a great friend and a great mentor. You were always around for me whenever I needed help. Most of your help was providing valuable guidance and just being there. You always had good axioms which mostly had been passed on to you from your father. For example Russ “If wishes were horses beggars would ride”, or “the best exercise you can do is just pushing yourself away from the table.” My personal favorite saying that was said to me countless times between the ages of 2-15 was “Russ you’re an accident looking for someplace to happen.” Dad you left behind such a huge legacy by training up us, your children, in the way we should go and with the valuable friendships you provided to so many. You taught me that Life is about the love you have for people, time spent with people, and what you do for people! You have so many friends and so many people who love you and who loved to share a laugh with you—this it is the true testament to your enduring legacy. Dad much to your credit, you taught me to have faith in our Lord, though it was Mom who made sure I went to church. You taught me to have a tremendous work ethic, by watching you work two jobs with no sick days for nearly 45 years. You did not truly retire until recently. Up until two years ago you were still working 40 hour weeks. Even in your so called retirement you found a way to still work a couple days a week. You always were finding a way to earn a living and constantly be providing for your family. Well Dad some of that rubbed off on me and for that I thank you! “Teach a man to Fish” was the best thing you could do for us! Dad, you put an emphasis on making sure we got good grades and went to college –it was never an option it was an expectation. I remember when you used to drive me by the Lackawanna Steel Plant and say; this is where you will end up working if you don’t make better grades. Neither one of us imagined at that time that there would come a day that the plant jobs would no longer exist.

Dad, you told me you played the saxophone in your youth, and I remember the days when you liked to relax and listen to Chuck Mangione, Spirogyra and Jim Croce. You were also a constant reader and you liked to read detective novels or any mystery drama. You also listened to a lot (and I mean a lot) of talk radio shows, often calling in to add to the discussion. When I was younger, I remember when you would finally get a Day off and sit in your reclining chair reading the paper and smoking your pipe or cigar. You would often fall asleep in the recliner. Dad, you loved TV and thought that cable TV was the one of the best inventions of the 21st century. Prior to Cable you would spend hours trying to get the best picture with the rabbit ears or roof antennas. If the TV were not working, it was as if you literally thought that the country had gone to WAR. I remember you quickly turning on the radio just to confirm the outside world was still there. I got a kick how later on in life you took up your new hobby of feeding the squirrels right out of your hand on the back patio.

Dad you taught me how to tie a Windsor knot and how to ride a bicycle. You taught me how to throw a baseball and you led me to believe that I always stung your hand when I threw back-- yet I never did become good enough to make the majors. Dad, you taught me the importance of giving back. Though you kept it private, you were very charitable to those around you and to your favorite organizations. Dad you taught me the importance of being politically astute. You were always amused at the “Apolitical People”. You had a habit of saying to people that were not political or who were offended by your political view, “You must live under a rock to not be tuned into things that affect everyone.” It is largely due to your influence that today one daughter is a village trustee, another serves on her local School Board, and a third frequently takes her kids to political rallies in DC. Dad you never minded if you offended anybody who did not like political talk –you were likely to say like Steve Martin did so often , “ Well EXCUSE ME “ Dad you don’t have to worry any more about the Socialist Democrat who occupies the white house. You will get to watch the Bills, Yankees and Sabers with Ken Hull, Mickey Mantle, and Tim Horton. I used to ask you when I was a kid, Dad why do watch the Bills every week when we know they stink. You would say “We are going to see how they lose this week.”

Dad as a little kid and even into adulthood it was so comforting to know if we got sick, you would have the solution. You would always provide advice and medications to us. Unfortunately when we had the chicken pox, we had to ride that one out using the calamine lotion. It was very cool having a Dad who was a Pharmacist. Everyone will miss being able to call you for basic medical advice. You and Uncle Jim were the original vitamin gurus. Where you are now, you will not need the vitamins anymore. Do not worry. I know Uncle Jim will continue to carry on the Vitamin E crusade.

Dad I still will never forget they day you had the talk about the Bird and the Bee’s with Chris, Tim and I. “Boys” “yes Dad”, “I am too young to be a Grandfather.” That will forever crack me up. You could not have been any clearer or more to the point!

Dad you were always trying to play an angle or get an edge. I guess no one should be surprised to know how good you were at playing POOL. We kids also enjoyed getting you out to the bowling alley whenever we could. You would get your old eye back and throw hook balls for perfect games. You would never let us forget that you eagled Grover Cleveland Golf Course’s number 10 par four 303 yard hole. This is the hole that runs parallel to Main Street. Back in the day you had some Athletic prowess. I still will never forget father son sports night and Windermere Blvd elementary school. “Dad we kicked everybody’s butt from shuffle board to shooting hoops. You hated the big crowds anywhere. I still remember us leaving the Bills versus Patriot’s November 22nd 1981 game early, just to beat the crowd to their cars. We heard the roar from the stadium as the thirty-six yard “Hail Mary” touchdown pass was completed. Although you did not know it at the time, 30 years later God would call you to again beat the crowd on your way to Heaven.

Dad I will never forget the epic vacations you took us on, driving all over the country to see and do so many things. The Grand canyon, Painted Desert , Hoover Dam, Las Vegas, Gettysburg , St Louis Arch, Disney Land, Montreal, Adirondack Mountains , Lake Chautauqua cottage, and Thousand Islands cottage. Incidentally taking a family of nine on any trip is practically a military operation. If you ever got to sit in the co-pilot seat usually occupied my mom, you got to man the RADAR detector. Your job was to keep Dad’s hat over it and keep your eye out for the cops. You used to marvel at why anybody would want to go overseas when there is so much to see and do in this country.

Dad in the 1970’s and early 1980’s you were the “KING” of the Charcoal grill, taking that grill to family picnics, vacations, backyard grilling and even on a winter toboggan trip to chestnut ridge.

I still remember when I was a little boy learning to ride my bike. Your guiding arm would safely grasp the back of my bike seat as you would run alongside of me time and time again until I was going alone. I liked Looking back over my shoulder for the reassurance that you were still there. You taught me how to ride and how to survive the crashes and crises life dishes out. I am thankful to you, Dad, and to my Heavenly Father, that I am a survivor.

Dad, I remember how you loved watching boxing. I remember watching the 1975 “Thriller in Manila “the greatest boxing match of the 20th century, with you Dad and with Uncle Louie. Wow that was a loud 140 Ivyhurst Road living room that day! Each fighter in a boxing match has a corner man to help instruct the boxer on strategy and to fix cuts. I will never forget the fact that you were my “CORNER MAN “in the biggest fight of my life. Over the last 2yrs you have been with me through this scary and completely demanding ordeal of fighting a disease. You would practically come up to the Hospital every day of my hospital admission. You would constantly talk to the Doctors and review what medications they were giving me. “Even tell me that I am not drinking enough water.” You would call me two to three times a day when you could not make it up to the hospital .Still When I received my diagnosis, the first thing I did, was pray to Our Father in Heaven--the rest of my tenacity came from how you raised me. You raised me to be incredibly stoic, “tough as nails.” I very rarely saw you complain about any aliment. To me as a little kid you were like “Superman.” You would go to work in a blizzard or high water—even the Blizzard of ’77 didn’t keep the Alessi kids from completing their paper routes! You came to the rescue that week! Since this disease fighting process was so daunting, I also needed your continuous love and support.” That I got and I will never forget! You and Mom were there for many doctor Appointments and transfusions. I never doubted I would survive because of my strong faith in our Lord, but it sure helped to have you there with me!

Dad I am still peddling that bike called Life, and now when I look up I know that you are there in Heaven. I am going to miss the 10,000 monthly e-mails you forwarded you! Going to miss you rxrxrx1 Every time I take a vitamin or pill I am going to miss you! In the words of the late Great Saint Father St. Jose Maria Escriva “ Esto Vir “ , “ Be a man “ Dad I am glad I had you to teach me to be a man ! I will forever miss you and you will always remain in my heart and my mind.