Messages from Family; From Cathie’s sister Patty (Fresno) Loving my sister so very much - through some very sad, hard times - in sickness and in health... and my heart aches for her loss... Our Mom giving him 40-dollar bills for his 40th birthday because he liked the Dollar Store How much he loved my kids, especially Andy. When my husband and I were separated, he bought a water bed for Andy. That was so special to him. How he loved my parents as if they were his own. Though he teased the heck out of our mother, she loved him like a son. If I think of more, I will send them... Patty

From Scott Pipo (Russ’s cousin) (Walnut Creek) My Favorite Cuz Russ story ... Life and death are about memories and feeling fortunate to have been able to experience those happy moments.... Here is a life changing experience and light-hearted memory of my cousin Rus..... As kids we all looked so forward to going to the Jersey Shore. Uncle Russ and Aunt Ella took the Pipo clan [Russ & Don] to Ocean Beach and my Dad and Mom brought our clan to Normandy beach... Harry's [beach] to be exact. I asked permission to walk down to see Russie and Donnie as I referred to them. My big cousins. I met the other side of the family that day. The Collins boys. All of us were on the front porch and I was just so excited to hang out with all of the older guys. Always in awe and probably most of the time with my mouth open waiting for the next story. Well a discussion came up about the lost art of "LOF” aka Lighting of Farts!!!! Never heard of it and thought there was no way. I wanted and waited for the punch line.... Then the discussion came up about the size of the flame and all I can remember is my eyes being opened like saucers and my mouth nearly hanging to the floor and who knows what else. I was 9 and Russ was 6 years older.... The next thing they started talking about is who had one in the chamber... Had no idea what they were talking about. Then all hell broke out. Someone who I will not mention was ready and pulled their pants down and a match was struck and OH MY GOD! I fell off the stool and could not say a thing being so shocked.... The FLAME was amazing!!!

To top it off there was a special fragrance to it also.... Is it sad to say that it is my most memorable story of Russ, but it was one heck of a learning experience in Chemical Engineering. It was my first class in "LOF" training and will forever remember that great afternoon in an Ocean Beach bungalow with my older cousins. Thank you, Russ, for being my big cousin who I will keep in my fondest memories. Love you forever! RIP Cuz Scott

========

From College Friends.

From Pete Miller – (Tennessee) Russ was one of the Brass Rail guys who we MOB guys thought was as close to being the T-shirted Fonz as you could get. I can’t remember Russ without having a T-shirt on. Being a young guy at Union who could never grow facial hair (even today) I was always mystified about Russ’s mustaches....it was the ultimate cool. I still remember learning my favorite drinking game I learned from Russ, Burt, and Whit.....the infamous shot-a-minute. I never lasted too long but hanging with the Brass Rail guys was cool. Russ along with his good friends Burt, Sill and Whitcomb gave me some great times and memories at Union. May he find peace and know that he affected so many lives during his journey here on earth. Pete ============ From Doug Rea aka R-E-A (Rochester, NY) When my parents and I arrived to Union College for fall registration my father and I were walking though the parking lot towards the dorm. At one end was some guy on a motorcycle with a spider web painted on his helmet's face shield. He revved up the motor and did a wheelie from one side of the lot towards my father and me. My Dad was shaken, and all I said was "that was great". Later I found out it was Pipo on that bike! "I really didn't have any "special moments" with Otto. We shared good times at his home in Fresno, Monterey, Ground Glass, and Watkins Glen. But Russ was always a good friend, constant, up-beat, and outgoing! He'd tell you what he thinks with no reserve. He'd smile, laugh, and take himself les s seriously than many of us did." From Bob Bliss (Buffalo) My first meeting with Russ was my first meeting with The Virgin. From that moment on, I knew the I wanted a Vette at some point in my life. Because of Russ, several of us had gotten interested in Dirt Bikes, including myself. I had never ridden on one until hanging around with Russ and a bunch of others who had bikes, at the time. I hadn’t seen the Classic Film, Animal House, in a while; and ironically; it was on TV after Steve told me about Russ. If you attended Union College, you can’t help but see some similarities to Faber College (in the movie) to Union College. When the character John Bluto Blutarski (John Belushi) came on, I immediately thought of Russ. Rough around the edges and always up for a party; that was the Russ that I knew. That brought a smile to my face.

I believe Russ was on the six-year plan to graduate from Union, otherwise I would never have met him. He did graduate, didn’t he? So, hoist an Otto’s Good Head Beer to a Good Man, and remember the Good Times. ===================================================== From Russ’s college swim coach (Lexington, KY) In over 40 years of college/university teaching/coaching, many students have crossed my path. No, I don’t remember all of them, but I remember the best ones. I remember Russ’s dark hair and always smiling face, his hard work and dedication and his free will. His free spirit led him to try anything, which created problems for a young teacher/coach, but that is what made him successful. He loved his friends and would do anything for them. Some good and some not so good. That was Russ. I am thankful for Russ Pipo. He made me a better teacher/ coach because of the time I spent with him at Don Calitri ========================================================

From college roommate Dave “Whitty” Whitcomb (Massachusetts)

1965 my first year at union I drove a 1963 white VW bus which I named the virgin ‘cause I couldn’t

get laid in it. Otto adopted that name about two years later for his vette. Gilmartin and I lived in

upper A wing and got Russell Otto in about 1965. And because we didn’t call him Russell we called

him Otto. He was one tough guy and we would try to hold him down to try to make him say

Uncle. But he never did. I’m sure we called him Otto first before he said he had an uncle Otto. From

A wing we moved to Disneyland because the landlords name was Disney. That Fall, with my food

money, I bought a Hodaka motorcycle and it became H. Hodaka.. Herbie aka Dirty Granny was

another roomie Otto had a Triumph that leaked oil. Later he brought a ‘58 corvette and I thought he

was rich. He later crashed it and I figured because he had stole my black leather jacket I bought

from the thrift store it brought him bad luck. We all later moved to Manor Motors where the chef

mechanics were Otto and Herbie whose motto was If we can’t fix it it a’int broke. I met Hugger in

Worthington Mass.

Dave ==========

From College friend Bill ‘Sill’ Schad. (Atlanta) I met Otto when was living on the first floor of B-Wing (dorm). early one evening I was relaxing and stuck my head out for some fresh air and boink I got hit in the head with an empty coke can (Had to have been a Pepsi can). I looked up and there was this guy on the second floor with an infectious laugh. I asked my roommate what the hell is going on. He said "Oh that's Pipo - he's on probation and has to be in his room 7 to 7 every night and he's starting to get a little punchy."

2) Curled up in the back of the Virgin (Otto's White Corvette) parked down at the bottom of

holler from the Manor Otto got me stoned for the first time. "I" was no longer a virgin.

3) We were in the Virgin and pulled out onto Hwy 25E and probably the only straight stretch in the county. Otto came to a complete stop. He dropped the hammer and we were off. Then he power shifted second gear - keep the gas floored and popped the clutch just long enough to pull it back into second. Kapow - the cigarette lighter came flying out of the socket and flew into the back. Damn!

4) I was in Santa Clara so Otto invited me down to celebrate my 40th. Stevie came up from LA with a date and we had a partEE. Late in the evening we all got naked and jumped in the hot tub. Well this was a whole new experience for this Southerner. I soon noticed I was

the only one that still had their glasses on and not knowing proper tub etiquette I was afraid the girls might think I was maybe trying to cop a glimpse of their boobs. So, I took

the glasses off and laid them on the deck behind me. Now all was well and finally I staggered off to bed. Upon joining the group at the breakfast table, the next morning Otto

had placed the Fresno yellow pages phone book on my plate with a note; “Sill...Open to the

book mark. There he strategically placed the local optometrist listing and there were the lenses to my glasses. It seems Buddy had a taste for plastic frames and had eaten mine. 5) I will always remember that infectious laugh... ==========================================

From Herbie Bert Shepard who wrote his note to Russ. (Ohio) Russ Many things come to mind. Most of them the great times union college / Barbourville, Ky brought us. What a place to ride motorcycles. I remember the time we/ you made an expansion chamber for the DT 1 Yamaha using the facilities at Perma Pipe. As I am texting this from New York City, I remember My first visit to NYC was with you and some friends. We made our way to Time Square for New Years. I don’t think I saw the ball drop. The next thing I recall was a killer hang over at your house. Good times! By the way my Honda was always faster than yours! Love you Bert =============

From California Friends

From Lynn Broughton,, [Pasadena] Connecting the dots. First, I met Diane & Toby who introduced me to Steve who introduced me to Russ & Cathie who introduce me to Sill. To me it is so interesting how one friendship lead to multiple friendships over the years. And we remained good friends through the years. First there was tubing down the Kings River. We would meet at the Pipos to decorate our tubes for the trip down the river. And don't forget the tube bar!! Some years the river was low, so we had to walk part way. Some years the river was high and we sailed down in record

time. But the most fun was gathering in the kitchen, telling tales and just having a GREAT time. Always fun, laughter and great stories. Then it was LBGP weekends. First hosted by Jennifer & Terry and then by me for the past 10+ years. I always looked forward to having everyone at my house. Friday nights was just a few people getting together but Saturday was always the big rally. Everyone would gather for dinner, Otto would bring his homemade beer, TALL tales would be told and friendships cemented for another year. How I will miss those dinners. So glad that everyone made it last year......one last time. As Bob Hope would say.... Thanks for the Memories"

=====================

From Toby Haynes – [Santa Barbara] Next month is the 45th Long Beach Grand Prix and I think Russ only missed 4 or 5. We always had a great time and if we didn't see each other during the year we could always count on being able to catch up during the race weekend. There were so many gatherings at Pipo Manor with lots of friends for parties, float trips, etc. But one weekend in the 80's just Russ and I took his Orange Dodge van over to Laguna Seca to watch the Indy cars race. We got a great campsite in the infield right by the fence and camped out. We had a Coleman stove, plenty of beer, Vodka, food and other adult items to indulge in over the weekend. It was a great time and was really special because it was just Russ and me. A side note to the weekend, was that on the way over Russ said that we have to stop at this place in Castroville called the Big Artichoke where they sold fried artichoke hearts. We stopped and got a couple of small bags. They were warm and delicious and were gone by the time we got to the track. Later I learned that there was a rather dramatic side effect of eating a whole bag of fried artichoke hearts, namely a serious gas attack. We left the windows in the van rolled down for the rest of the trip. Thank God we were camping and were outside most of the time. I've never had fried artichoke hearts again, but we love artichokes cooked almost any other way. Whenever we have one I always think of Russ and our special trip to Laguna Seca. Other great memories of Russ include the1980 Ensenada Yacht Race where he was part of the crew of the Nightwatch that included Steve Burchesky, Alan Riley, Allan Bair, and Dick Spaulding and helped the Nightwatch become one of the very few yachts to receive the coveted NOSA Special Trophy as the last yacht to finish. Lastly I'll never forget Russ's trip to Arcualrius Ranch on the Harley Davidson Cafe Racer over Tioga Pass where he nearly froze to death on the ride over. He warmed

himself up by consuming at least a pint of blackberry brandy which may have worked but left him severely wounded the next day so much so that he never got out of bed. He eventually recovered and we had the usual raucous time in Cabin #5 and actually caught some fish when we weren't playing hearts or getting into some other type of trouble =====================

From Mike Roger’s sister Joann Rogers.

I can say that Mike loved Russ and Hugger. They were family to him. Maybe Mike and Russ are

catching up on old times. Joann

========================================================

========================================================

Eulogy for Russ by Steve Burchesky (Pittsburgh/Canonsburg, PA)

Good morning. Thank you all for being here to pay your respects to Russ’s family

What doing? Can I hear you say ‘WHAT DOING’?

RUSSELL G. George PIPO, Aka Russ, Between Russ and brother Don aka Knucklehead

or Knuckle aka Otto. AKA Crazy Otto

I have very few photographs of Russ in anything but a T-shirt. Cars. Motorcycles. Beer.

You know. So Let me get a bit more Otto comfy. [ How many here remember Russ as

wearing a tie? [Removes tie] A sport coat? [Removes coat] How about a dress shirt? [Take

off shirt] To reveal a Harley T-shirt]

Can you all remember (other than Don and Bradley) When YOU met Russ?

I’LL TELL YOU HOW I MET HIM ---- [Reach in pants & HOLD UP orange/black trim

SPEEDOS ]-This is how I met Russ. SPEEDOS. It was on the Union college swim team. He

had a Beatles haircut and had to keep flipping it to the side so he could see! And his

Speedos. Russ continued to wear his Speedos all his life. That=s probably because he

looked terrific in them. I stopped wearing them when I hit my 30s

In November of ‘66, due to Russ being placed on Social probation (Can you imagine?)

because he could Not conform to school code - I felt sorry for him having to be cooped up a

room from 7-7AM and we were soon Roomies

I remember most all of the girls Russ dated at college; Let’s see, there was that townie

Diane Boyd with big boobs. and then there was that platinum blonde one he code named,

The Cockatoo with bigger boobs. Last was ‘The Tornatore’ who well... she won prizes with

‘em both!

Speaking of boobs. (and hugger will approve). that reminds me - Hugger & Otto loved

dirty limericks. Here was one of Otto’s favs. Join me if you know it.

There once was a girl named A-Lizas

She had tits of two different sizes.

One was so small it was hardly at all

And the other was huge and won prizes!

Our college group of party friends always sat on an old iron pipe rail which we

affectionately called The Brass Rail. It was on a corner near campus next to Foley’s

Restaurant. We watched the car action Nd townies drive by as we sipped our Cokes, RC -

and Russ with his Pepsi. We called ourselves the Railers. The Brass Railers... even entered

ourselves in the annual Roman Holiday!

Russ never liked the regular drinking games like Bizz-Buzz or becoming a member of the

Turtle Club but I hear he was a member of the shot-a- minute game and I know he was a

proud member of the Gallon Club. The challenge was having to consume One gallon of

beer (we bought our beer in quarts back then) in 3 hours. Sounds easy? It was NOT. I

know.

Otto loved a challenge and competition.... whether it was Motorcycle racing. Dragging

against another fast car OR just drinking.

In 1972, there was a college reunion in the Berkshire mountains of Massachusetts. Russ

called and told me that he had just taken this pretty little knock-out blonde and He was

gonna bring her to the Vermont bash for their 2nd date. . She was from Kearny NJ and her

name was Cathie Reilly. She either was or was soon to become Hugger.

When they arrived that Friday night, I was already in party mode so I tackled Russ with

both of us getting pretty muddy. I stood up and introduced myself to the Hugger. So, to test

her nickname out. I picked her right up off the ground about 2 feet for a face to face hug.

She was a hugger and she didn’t even know me!! I’ve been doing that ever since.

In ‘73, I moved to California and was living in Hollywood. Russ kept me posted on

everything he and Hugger were up to.

In the early 1975, Russ called to announce he and Cathie were going to get

married. Would I be in his wedding? Of course! They were married May 10.

I don’t remember a whole lot that night at the reception but I do remember Don got their

room key from the front desk. Thought he’d trick them by saying his name was Pipo. We

all snuck up to the honeymoon room where the reception was being held. We removed all

light bulbs. tied and knotted the window shades up, turned the drawers upside down and

put ‘em back in. Vaseline or cellophane on the toilet seat (can’t recall which) and of course.

Short sheeted the bed. Ha! Hugger. Do you remember. Was Russ pissed or what?

Russ also told me they he and Cathie had decided to leave New Jersey and move to

California. I was ecstatic. Stevie - we are moving to Fresno. Where’s Fresno? I

asked? After a brief stay at a 4-plex on North Wishon, they found a most wonderful corner

home on N. Maroa and it was soon dubbed

PIPO MANOR.

There were many weekends when Russ and Cathie drove down to see me in Sherman

Oaks. And many when I drove up 99 to see them Fresno. Easters, Summers. July 4th,

Thanksgivings and a Christmas or two.

There were many events at Pipo Manor - but the most significant event at Pipo Manor for

many - was the annual July inner tube float down the King’s River. We called it Rollin

Down the Kings. The last time Russ & Cathie held it there were close to 80 people in

attendance. The entire back yard was filled with inner tubes, all brightly painted. On

Saturday morning, (after several screw drivers and/or bloody marys) Russ would signal the

crowd and the long caravan of cars and trucks departed to the river. What fun those floats

were!!!

Russ and Cathie tried for a long time to have children. Our mutual friend Dave Abbass

suggested to Russ that he limit his hot tub soaking and try taking some Zinc supplements to

boost his ammunition. Bingo! Two handsome boys later. Russell and Bradley!

We both had extended length vans. My ‘71 yellow Chevy and his ‘73 orange Dodge. One

weekend, we three rendezvoused on PCH to spend the weekend Camping somewhere at a

halfway point by the Pacific. We had No cell phones. But we had CBs in those days. As I

got closer to our rendezvous point, I’d yell into the microphone OTTO OTTO Come in

Crazy Otto What’s your and Huggers 10-20? You got a copy? You got the Jabberwock-a

talking. Come on.

Those campouts were the best. Especially the night Russ saved all 3 of our lives.... we were

camped and parked about 30 feet facing on a slight incline near a very high edge

overlooking the pacific. While listening to a cassette tape recording of the Hobbit, I (sitting

in Russ’s driver’s seat and probably a bit high from the salty ocean air) went to roll the

window down and inadvertently released the parking brake. Unbenounced to me, the van

began rolling slowly towards the ocean. Russ suddenly reached over my lap and grabbed

and set the parking brake, saving all three of our lives so we could party again. That was

some fast thinking!!

Thx Russ.

Can you imagine Russ owning any other dog but a Shepard?

German Shepherds every single one. My 1st visit to his home in Rutherford in the

summer of 67, I was Greeted by Bilbo at the door - holy shit that dog was huge - twice as

big any (Right Don?) since. Once Russ and Cathie were in Fresno, along came Frodo, Both

Frodo and Bilbo were named for characters in the story The Hobbit. Then came buddy 1

and Buddy 2, and then came Riker who is with Cathie and Bradley today.

Russ was quite extraordinary and gifted with many talents of which I was envious...

For many of us, the things we liked -we just bought. Maybe we made and fixed a couple

things. But Russ fixed AND MADE all kinds of things.

Then Photography - Russ had his darkroom in the basement in E. Rutherford. where he

developed and made his photographs. I think he even processed color slide film before I

ever did.

Then Beer- Not only did Otto enjoy his beer. (Hell, he was of German descent for Pete’s

sake) He installed a keg refrigerator in their kitchen at Pipo Manor and if that wasn’t

enough... he began brewing beer...! Named Otto’s Good Head Brewery. He became pretty

good at and even won a county blue ribbon and even a prize in a Milwaukee Competition.

And although he loved poppy seed rolls he never got into baking.

Otto was a meat lover. So, he ground, packed and smoked his own kolbashi. Pretty tasty

huh Bradley? What a hit! But another of his meaty loves was Eating raw hamburger

meat! No thanks Otto

Have I mention yet he liked women with big boobs? How many guys here would get those

countless photo attachments Otto would email out? Show of hands please?

Then Fishing. Fly fishing. So, much so he bought the tools and tied his own flies. In 1988

We went fishing in Montana together. I can’t recall if those flies worked.

His love for Motorcycles - Road or Dirt Bikes is no secret. Hell, when he moved in with me

at dorm, he brought his Honda 360 TT Scrambler all apart in boxes disassembled. The

frame was the center piece in the room. He painted and rebuilt it which helped occupy the

being confined to his room.

But What REALLY impressed me was when, in the mid 70’s Russ decided to buy a kit

build a big color tv. He soldered the whole thing together piece by piece. And it worked!!!

Next was assembling and installing a huge 12’ satellite dish.

Russ and Cathie bought a 12’ wooden hot tub. Russ built a huge Deck around it.

Hugger wanted a larger bed room so Russ built a bedroom addition.

Then he designed a and built a Beautiful wooden parquet-type octagon dining room table.

Then a long 8’ long chopping block-style Kitchen table, then a stained-glass front door

PIPO window. And several things I am probably not even aware of. Of course, He did all

the maintenance on his bikes, trucks and cars.

Besides Hugger....He loved his motorcycles. he loved his Cars and Trucks but his cars were

pretty much all corvettes. Many of you know he loved his 2003 50th edition Corvette. But

back in the college years. his first one he owned back in 1965 or ‘66 was a maroon ‘62 vette

that he called the Guppy. Then after a crash that totaled it, (Russ was not at the wheel) he

bought a White ‘64 split window corvette Stingray and dubbed it the Virgin. It still

resides at Pipo Manor.

Russ Enjoyed having fun and screwing around with his friends. The first time I ever saw

someone lite up a fart was in 1967 when Russ and I were college roommates. Spectacular!!

He always cautioned. Be sure to keep your BVDs on. (Russ was never a boxer guy. Nor

were any of us back then.)

Then he taught me about Jacking drawers grabbing ones BVDs and taking g them up

towards the arm pits. The 1or2 handed rear jack. And The two-handed side jack! (I had

been living a sheltered life back then folks)

and that’s How I first met Don. Oh boy was THAT embarrassing Remember Don? I

knocked on the trailer door early one morning at college. I Saw thru that fuzzy frosted

window glass who I thought was Russ approaching wearing just BVDs. I thought

revenge!!I crouched down. Door opens. I lurch in and grab Dons BVDs.

Russ enjoyed a good doobie. Although He tried he could Never get me to try it while we

were at college things changed a bit once we started partying here in California. One year,

Russ gave me a doobie clip in the shape of a door key which I kept on my key ring. That

was … wait here it is right here!

He Liked Sardines out of the can (Gross). Did I mention he also liked women with big

boobs!

Russ Loved other types of competition. Games! Horseshoes. Darts, shooting pool,

Backgammon. He even MADE Don and me beautiful backgammon boards! I treasure

mine.

Car racing – I’d lay a wager that few here (other than maybe Toby? Or Alan?) have been

to more car race tracks than Russ; NASCAR races at Watkins Glen in the early 60’s and

again in the 90’s when invited our brothers to join us. Then there was Bristol 500 back in

the 60’s and again in the 90’s. Road Atlanta with friend Sill. He and Les attended an Indy

race. The biggest trip was when He and Hugger made a whirl-wind European tour that

included The French Grand Prix, The Amsterdam, the Austrian, the German and two 2

British Grand Prix. Here in the US was the Laguna Seca, LBGP @ Long Beach. Several

here today joined Russ including myself. As Toby wrote he only missed a few

Would Russ have any REGRETS?? I knew a Few. Well there’s one I can think of. My

father always told me to never discuss politics or religion with family or friends. Not sure

about Russ and is talking about the gospel, but you had to watch your step if you weren’t a

hard line conservative!

His best qualities...

Among everything else. Russ was a devoted friend - someone you could always count on.

Russ was always there to help a friend out. When I was packing to leave CA and move to

PA, he drove down from Fresno and spent several days with me pack and load the moving

truck.

I was in Russ’s wedding and He was in mine. I’ve tried to be with Russ in HIS time of grief

and Russ was there in MY time of grief

Russ loved Hugger, his boys, his friends and his dogs.

He embraced so much of what life had to offer

and yes...

Big Boobs and all

So, Russ….

How about that Crazy Otto? What Doing? 10-4?

You got a copy?

You got the Jabberwocky here come on?

I know your 10-20 and I hope you’re ok now Russ,,,

Just so you know…

We all Miss you very much

Jabberwocky here.

Over and out.