James Michael Kossuth

We always enjoyed spending time with Jim. There was so much to talk about with him and lots of laughter. He loved his family so much and had such a wonderful outlook on life. He will be greatly missed.

We are very sorry to hear of Jim’s passing. We hope the many memories will provide comfort as time goes by. Our hearts and prayers are with family and friends during this difficult time.

Love,
Bill and Toni

Jim is my first cousin on our mom’s Caruso side. He is two years my senior. We shared some memorable times from the late 50s into the 70s.

My moving to Ohio in ’56, didn’t prevent us from sharing our experiences with each other.

All the reel-to-reel tapes we to our exchanged to the frequent letters we sent. Talking about late night radio, Gene Shepard and Cousin Bruce Morrow, old movies and Boris Karloff. How fortunate to have our Moms’ voices recorded on the tape.

Instructing each other on how to make a life-sized scarecrow-type character. Yours was named Lon after Lon Cheney. Were we talking about making movies?…. I can’t remember what we were doing.

At holiday visits, we would huddle in Grandma’s upstairs front room. Recordings that our cousin Alex, you and I made. Fake interviews, about pulling, too late, the pin on the Berkeley to reverse the engines.

Watching from the upstairs window while we called the lady across the street from Grandma. We were posing as the town’s public works. Asking her to let us know if the street light in front of her house was on or blinking. Her tape-recorded reactions sent us howling.

Our nickel, brass-plated Calcium Carbide Cannons that used water and calcium carbide to create acetylene gas, ignited by a flint for a loud bang, smoke, and flash. What safety instructions?

Posting Smoky the Bear posters on that one-house, plot-sized wooded lot down from Grandma’s in Cranford. It was our duty as members of the Smokey the Bear Club.

Rowing out to Fort Gorges Rick Ivers. Swimming out to our boat we anchored at low tide.

Cedar Point Amusement Park rides and laying on the Lake Erie beach eating cotton candy and sand.

Then there was the Summer of 70:
47-46 43rd St.
The White Album
Taking the #7, reverse commuting 2 Kepco in Flushing. Thanks for getting me that summer job.
Steak and Brew and Greenwich Village.
We were bullet proof.

Seeing Simon & Garfunkel at the old Forest Hills tennis stadium.

After work, taking late, all-night bus rides to Portland. The cheap fights to Boston. Any way to get to the Island.

The parties back shore and at Twin Spruce. Thanks Ed and Elaine for chaperoning:) . Never forget the pull-tab, beer ring chain wrapped around the tulip lamp.

Jim knows and remembered the important events and people. Also, possibly, some of the most trivial tibits. An Island historian

Jim loves to dance. No more so than at his two beautiful daughters weddings.

He left his mark on us and my soul.
He wants and needs to be heard.
Ya, he can be cynical. He has opinions, as we all do. He is giving and helping if you are in need. He was great to his Mom.

So here’s to
The Caruso sisters
HO gauge and Lionel trains
Reel to reel tapes
Cranford New Jersey
and 47-46 43rd St.
The perfect slice 🍕
The New York Yankees and
The Rolling Stones
Peaks Island and back shore beers.
Put on some music and keep on dancing Jim…Art…Jim.