Benefit for Multiple Myeloma sufferer Dan LoRusso Medford High class of ‘71

COME JOIN US FOR THE FUN!!

Silent Auction – Luncheon Buffet - Raffles

Saturday - September 22, 2012 - 11AM – 3PM

Carroll’s Bar & Grille

21 Main Street, Medford, MA

Get your tickets early $25 per person in advance

or $40 at the door

Use PayPal or send a check to:

Citizens Bank

40 Mall Road

Burlington, MA  01803

Attention:  Kathleen Pasquale for LoRusso Benefit

We are anticipating a fabulous turnout of auction & raffle items!  Come and bid while enjoying the delicious fare at the all new Carroll’s in Medford Square plus the comedy duo of Johnny Z & Tommy C.

If you would like to be a sponsor of this event, please 

do not hesitate to contact:

Lift Up Lorusso Benefit Co-Chairwoman

Noreen Garrity Manzo,  noreen@manzos.net  617-283-4264

Visit us at:  LORUSSOBENEFIT.COM 

So Who Is this Dan LoRusso Guy?

 Maybe you haven’t actually had the pleasure of meeting him, but I’ll wager you know his work!

Ever notice that scientifically correct life sized T-REX at the Museum of Science in Boston? That’s Dan’s work.  Sculpted the original and saw it to fruition… as his wife Leslie has told me…quite frankly I thought he was nuts at the time, a two story life sized dIno?!  Anyway it went from this miniature t-rex model, which he sculpted, on my dining room table to life sized scale.  I must say I knew he was talented but once I saw it all put together and rigged up standing tall I just couldn't have been prouder.  Then Danny being Danny put a personal touch on it.  If you look really, really close you will see our son's name, Adam, in the paint pattern on its back towards the tail. Also he engraved our names, Adam's, mine (Leslie) his own and, if I am remembering correctly, our pet's name at the time with the date right under the left eye … I thought that was super sweet.   : )

Ever wander through the Galleria Mall in Cambridge?  Dan made the architectural model for it when he was employed by Trip Tech in Needham.

Are you curious about this interesting man yet? Here are some of the details & highlights:

Born in Boston, Dan is a lifelong resident of Medford, Massachusetts (not counting a short stint in Everett as a newlywed).

Attended Medford public schools including the challenging two years of split –sessions in the burned out shell of Medford High on Forest St. and graduated as part of the class of 1971 out of the “New High School” on High St. where he had majored in ART! (Dan has fond memories of “Good old Miss MacMillan” the art teacher at MHS).

Attended Wentworth Institute and later North East Regional Tech in Wakefield at night: earning his Journeyman’s Machinist Certificate. Finally after paying the bills for several years working in men’s retail our mild mannered haberdasher broke out and began to show his true colors!

Working for various companies making Research & Development models for clients such as Raytheon and GE, Dan made a living using his artistic talents in an industrial fashion. 

Then our man heard the roar of the dinosaurs… Actually that roar had sort of a New York accent ….. and he became an independent contractor creating models under the name of The DINOSAUR STUDIO.  Or as his wife, Leslie put it…Lord knows this was not planned, he "fell" into it after being laid off  from the last model company he worked for having to downsize due to the economy in that industry at the time. Out of nowhere he received a call from; I think it was the museum of natural history in New York City, looking for someone with both a modeling background and knowledge of dinosaurs to do some exhibit work.  Somewhere down the line some networking led them to him.  Dan did the job and continued for 12 years under the Dinosaur Studio doing a variety of jobs mostly but not limited to dinosaur/exhibit work.  

You can check out his website for more details: DinosaurStudio.com 

Meanwhile, a man of more than one passion, Dan has always maintained his love affair with Marine Aquariums.  Maybe you ran into him at one of the many retail outlets where he got his “salt water fix”?  Kings Exotic Shop, Pisces Pets, Neptune’s Realm, Tropic Isle and most recently unofficial head of the aquatics department at Petco in Saugus. 

  Dan said, “I still have an aquarium maintenance business with the help of Adam.  My strongest passion is salt water aquariums. Right now it's my escape from life. I can stare into it for hours. But, I digress..... Son Adam, he is best thing that ever happened to me. Talented little bugger!!

Still with me, good for you! I thank you for that.  Danny’s one of three kids and has a sister Christine and a brother Vinny LoRusso. His Dad passed nineteen years ago but MOM!... As Danny put it, “Mom is 80 and still kickin' it. She was my chauffeur when I first broke my back and still accompanies me to chemo.”  Theirs is a loving family of Sicilian descent.  If you grew up in Medford you know what that means: Mangia!… Eat! Dan loves to cook and claims that he does 90% of the cooking (I told you this guy is talented!) and modestly says, “Damn good at it too! “

Oh and there is one more member of the household I haven’t mentioned. That is Dan’s bunny rabbit named Remy after the Red Sox great Jerry Remy! Seven years old, Remy the rabbit has taken to hanging on the couch cuddling next to Dan right after the sun goes down.  It looks like Remy has learned a lesson many of us may already know… When you are sick sometimes you really need a cuddle.

 The Lift up LoRusso Benefit Committee seeks your support in raising funds for the Lift up LoRusso Benefit in aid of Dan LoRusso MHS ’71 

If you prefer to make a cash donation you can send a check to:

Citizens Bank

40 Mall Road

Burlington, MA  01803

Attention:  Kathleen Pasquale for LoRusso Benefit

Or visit us at LoRussoBenefit.com

(Note: A special thank you to Tom Convery for suppling the info found in this post!) 

Courtesy of Jim Morse of JimmyMorse.com