Russel "Russ" Anthony Arlotta

Didn't know Russ but I feel his spirit in the gentle breeze sitting on the bench devoted to him along Sligo Creek. I lived here 30 years ago and always loved to walk along paths. May all of us follow the words written in his song.

Each day a new page turned, another lesson for the heart to learn

I keep in my memory and in my heart , your beautiful soul , your music and our beautiful shared friendship....I will never forget you, my dear friend.

Happy birthday Dad I love and miss you so much. Trying to remember that the road goes on forever...

Missing you so much on your birthday today

Two aspects of Russ's character I've long admired: his generosity and his courage. As well as regularly hosting his musician friends, feeding them and providing tea, he regularly gave music away in one form another. He loaned me one of his fiddles for months on end while I was just learning the instrument along with my daughter, and thinking of my interest even earlier he made this tape for me. His courage was most evident for the many years he faced the prospect of his illness worsening and cutting short the life he lived so richly. At the end he still hoped for a miracle but faced his situation stoically and bravely. These characteristics and Russ's entire life inspire me.

Russ was a gem of a human being who will remain in the hearts of the many whose lives he touched. I met him in high school where he was a diligent student and a competitive athlete. We bonded through a group of friends who were into music, motorcycles and some of the other recreational pursuits of teens in the '70s. After high school Russ proved to be an adventurous free spirit, always up for a hike in the woods or a road trip to unexplored territory. That time marked the beginning of his lifelong love of crafting songs and playing music on a guitar that was never too far from reach.
Russ also had a strong pragmatic side that led him to achieve a law degree. I've often thought the guy represented an interesting dichotomy: a sharp legal mind with the soul of a poet. This dynamic played out in Russ's songs which were at once idealistic and realistic about the human condition.
Russ and I lost touch with each other for a couple of the middle decades of our lives. To my great fortune that ended when we happened to run into each other at a holiday party. For that, and the nearly 30 more years of renewed friendship, I will forever be grateful. My heart goes out to Joan, Caitlin, Allison and Russel.

Russ hired me as a brand new attorney in 2012, and he was my first boss as an attorney. He taught me everything I know about personal property taxes, and he was a wealth of knowledge. He always exuded kindness, empathy, and patience in everything he did. He was a gentle, kind person, and I will miss him greatly.

Most of their friends span generations, but I met Russ and Joanie January 21, 2023 at a Paul Lojewski gig in Berlin, MD. I was surprised when this stranger was suddently invited to perform with Paul. Watching Russ on guitar and Paul on harmonica--obviously good friends--was itself memorable. But that memory was followed by amazing CDs that arrived in the mail from Joanie. I can testify that the lyrics are read even more often than the music is played. I am forever grateful that this chance meeting introduced me not to just two kind and thoughtful individuals, but a poet and musician who challenges us to recognize, appreciate, and share with joy the path of this one-way train as he called it.

Russ was an avid teacher and spent hours explaining law to me. We worked together on taxing legal documents for Prince George's County and my first lesson was there is no such things as a yes or no answer. If anyone walked away from him without a complete understanding of the answer, they were beyond hopeless. He even took the time to dumb it down for those of us without the law degree. I cherish those conversations and the laugher i would get when i tried to use common sense as an argument. "My dear, Common sense has no place in law." May the good Lord bless you Russ Arlotta, as he blessed the days he allowed us to spend with you. There will never be another like you.

We have lived on Sheridan Avenue near Russ, Joan and family for over 30 years, both families raising children. Russ was a wonderful parent! I remember how giddy with joy he was after the births of each of his children. He quickly became adept at solo wrangling newborn twins and a toddler. He loved and appreciated each child for the individual he or she was. We have so many memories: the children trick or treating, late night runs for Happy Meals, slumber parties, Wizard of Oz movie marathons, picnics at the park, Christmas Eves. Russ is a big part of those memories and always will be. We will always miss you, Russ.

Russ was one of my closest friends for over 45 years. We actually met each other at a party in Kensington around 1977. We shared many great times, camping at the beach, taking in live music, jamming, and playing sports. It's hard for me to pick one moment of our shared experience, but I have one that comes to mind, and that is the bachelor party I helped organize 37 years ago. Russ had asked me to be the best man at his upcoming wedding to Joni, and I wanted to throw him a bachelor celebration. I know he wouldn't want to participate in the usual bachelor event, but I knew he loved to play music and hang with friends. At the time I was living in his basement apartment on Westmoreland ave. in Takoma Park. The apartment was cozy and I had a ball living there. What I decided to do, with help form others, was to throw a musical jam/crab feast for Russ. I went down to Maine Ave in DC and bought a bushel of steamed crabs, along with beer and snacks, and invited some of his closest friends, male and female to my place. The party turned out great. After eating the crabs we sat down, or stood up, (The apartment was small) and proceeded to play music. Russ, excited, decided to tape the whole jam session. He set up a mic and used my cassette player to document the event. Well this wasn't just a 2 hour jam, but over 6 hours of playing tunes. I think we ended around 4 in the morning, exhausted, but happy. We all shared so many great songs and so much laughter. I remember being astonished at how good the music sounded on those tapes. I believe those cassette tapes are still around, and they probably should be enshrined at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland. What a great night and an appropriate celebration for their upcoming wedding.

I first met Russ at Prince George's County when he worked there and was so happy that I met such a wonderful kind man. He offered me a job at CAH and I started in 2011. I worked at the County during the day and popped over and worked at night with Russ. He always got a kick out of scaring me when he rounded the corner with that wonderful happy voice. I cannot begin to express the heartbreak I feel since he passed. My prayers, love and hugs go out to the family. Russ was one of a kind and I am blessed to have had the privilege to know him and call him my friend.

I will never forget the utter devotion Russ had to his children and his family.

I fell in love with Russ the moment he first walked into my door in Glover Park with Joanie. I immediately wrote to my wife: "THAT's the kind of guy I could really be friends with." Alas, our friendship was an all-too-short one, but i shall think of him with affection and gratitude for the rest of my days. He was a prince, and I could tell that from the first moment.

Joan and family,
My heart goes out to you.
You and Russ were always so kind to my mom and me, especially when my mom passed away.
May you find peace at this difficult time.
Dolores (Ziegler) whose mom used to live across the street (as did I longer ago).

This is from Aalborg, Denmark in July 2019, when Russ,Joanie and Allison came to visit for a day. We will always remember this sun shiny day with a beautiful breeze, as we shared our beautiful city , our temporary home, with them. Russ´s enthusiasm for adventure, his genuinely happy smile, and gentleness will stay in our hearts forever. What a lovely memory.
Mary and Kevin Ingram

Russ and I did a lot of things together, music, landscaping, wrestling, hiking. Russ taught me the basics of guitar and piano when we were quite young, high school, I think. I think the craziest thing we did was a week long hike on the Appalachian Trail. Those days at The Boat House (Tom Moore's place) and later on Norwood Road were insane.