In memory of the honorable Jimmy Crosby Russo.

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“The death of my twin brother, a decent man.”

 

Dear Grace and Jimmy,

 

I know you must be hurting, as you have never hurt before in your whole life because of the early departure of your dear father Jimmy.

 

I am also hurting and my tears have visited my eyes just like when Ruthie my wife and Keila my daughter and Doug Coe my mentor also passed away.

 

I have decided to write this letter to you so you may know the kind of father you had. The only word that comes to my mind for Jimmy is: “Jimmy was a decent man,” a good friend, a loving father, a cheerful encourager and a positive man rich in generosity, seasoned with great humor who loved the insights about Jesus.

 

As you know, your father and I were born the same year, the same month, the same day, and the same hour, except 1000 miles apart one from the other.

 

Doug Coe thought that we should be friends and we should walk together. We were humble enough to obey the words of Doug and we enjoyed 35 years of walking together. The amazing thing that I want to say to you is that I met your father when you were still students and we have seen you grow. I have seen you here, there and everywhere. I have always noticed that your dad loved you both and loved you dearly.

 

No amount of words will bring Jimmy back from the dead but the words I say to you as I continue this letter will be a letter of hope. He may not come to see us but we will go to see him because we love Jesus and serve him faithfully.

 

Jimmy was a leader by vocation but by nature he was a follower of Jesus.

Jimmy treasured ideals, principles, and insights into the heart of God.

I remember 30 years ago we went to have lunch in Washington and he said to me “Gerry you should write, you have the gift of writing.”

 

Then he took me to a very special store one block from the White House where they sell the most Expensive pens with gold tips that money can buy.

I must thank your father Jimmy, “my beloved twin brother” and friend for helping me to believe in myself and have the confidence to write over one thousand Thought-provoking articles as well as food for thought to encourage believers everywhere and anytime. You might find these articles just by clicking the following link: http://perugerry.com/

 

The fact that there was a man, who believed in me and read my letters constantly, was enough for me to keep on writing. Jimmy was my disciple and I in turn was his disciple in the things of our expertise. We both were the disciple of each other. “As iron sharpens iron so a man sharpens another man.” For 35 years I have had the honor to say I never fought with Jimmy.

 

When Doug Coe passed away in Washington DC, I called Jimmy to come from Lima Peru for the funeral of our beloved mentor and friend.

I remember the night before the funeral in an Italian restaurant after some good wine and in the company of the Honorable Congressman Todd Gibson and other friends, Jimmy was very talkative. He confided to us that Doug Coe would always tell him repeatedly to listen to me. I reciprocated with him by saying that Doug also asked me to be with Jimmy like Luke and Theophilus, a businessman and a theologian.

 

Dear Jimmy and Grace, I have worked with your father as a friend, as a brother and as a fellow Soldier for Jesus for over 30 years. We have been in your beach house in Cieneguilla and in my house up in the mountains. We have been in San Isidro and in Miraflores for countless meetings with our common friends.

But most of the time we spent together was in Washington DC where I lived and worked for ten years in the Diplomatic Community as the Washington Representative and Director of International Relations for Mission to the World. 

 

We have been everywhere together. We loved one another as Jonathan loved David.

My last words to you is this: Jimmy and Grace, your dad loved you both dearly and I believe you love each other because of the kind of love with which he loved you both.

 

Your father knew how to love and he taught you how to follow the master who told him, “Love one another, by this they will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” (Please love one another)

 

 From now on it will be my pleasure and lifelong task to tell many that I met your father and I will tell the one thing that to me was prominent.

Jimmy was a decent man in the inner person, his heart was a beautiful heart that made him attractive dear and tender hearted that made it easy to following him,

 

I had the pleasure to work with him for many years. We wined and dined with heads of state and the most powerful men on the face of our planet earth in our Presidential Prayer Breakfasts in Washington DC and in Peru. We worked for the glory of God, for the benefit of those around us and then for our own blessing.

 

This is Gerry Gutierrez, a friend of Jimmy Crosby, a decent man, my friend a fellow follower of Jesus.

 

Gerry Gutierrez

 

The pictures are of Doug and Jimmy, the last time I saw them.