James Paul Ruso (aka Jay) age 60 of Winchester, TN, passed into God’s loving arms on March 30, 2024, at Alive Hospice, Murfeesboro, TN. James was born on November 19,1963 in Catskill, NY, the son of Floyd Abrams Ruso and Bonnie Jean Kirby. He was the loving husband to Susan Lynn Anne Healey (June 15, 1991), loving father of Lidia Ruso and beloved grandfather of Modali A’Precious Ruso. He was predeceased by his parents, his Uncle Charlie and Uncle Millard and is survived by his aunts, Lynne Ruso Wallace, Joan Ruso and Ella Ruso, a sister-in-law, Bonnie L. Healey, her daugher, Lynn Downey, and other relatives.
James spent many toddler summers with his Aunt Ella and Uncle Charlie, later as a country boy he grew up dirt biking, snow sledding, swimming, running track and doing karate, frequently sharing time with his lifelong childhood friends, Billy and David. His extended family shared a camp on a NY Lake where family and friends spent summers enjoying nature’s beauty. He and his parents and later wife and daughter would travel to Maine each spring or summer to enjoy the beauty of the ocean, seafood meals, and entertainment in the area. James’ family also spent time at Hudson River’s edge in Ravena at summer music performances where a gazebo was built and dedicated to honor James’ Father, Floyd, for the work he did to improve the Ravena Hudson River shoreline and family park. James always loved music, played drums in a band as a teen. He and his entire family spent many hours listening to music, going to SPAC performances. After retirement, James renewed his interest in drumming and enjoyed drumming while listening to his favorite musicians, Pink Floyd, Dark Side of the Moon, and others. James recent greatest joy was spending time with his beautiful granddaughter, Modali, who already loves music.
James graduated from Ravena-Coeymans Selkirk High School where he was honored as NYS business student of the year. He was awarded a 4-year scholarship to Cornell University. James attended SUNY Albany, SUNY Cobleskill and HVCC where he completed his requirements for his NYS Water/Wastewater license. He was employed by Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk and Champlain Municipal as a Water and Wastewater Operator and Supervisor. He also was an RCS substitute teacher and retired from NYS with 23 years’ service. James was a Navy Veteran, a former member of the NYS Greene County American Legion Post 291, a current member of Franklin County American Legion Post 44, where he was Treasurer for a few years, a member of the DAV, a 25-year member of the Ravena-Coeymans Fire Department, on numerous NYS bowling leagues and enjoyed a weekly poker game with business colleagues and friends.
James and his family want to thank everyone who assisted any one of us during his recent hospital stays. We appreciate the extra dedication of our close friends, our WFUMC family, caring neighbors, and friends. We appreciate that his Aunt Ella flew up from Florida to see him when he was in Centennial Hospital, Nashville. James donated his body to Vanderbilt UMC Anatomical Donation Program in 2018 who accepted him. Donations in his honor can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project or to the organization of your choice.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, from 11:00am – 1:00pm at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home with a memorial service following at 1:00pm from the chapel. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)967-2222
