BONETTI, James Russell “Russ”

Russ, age 73, passed away on March 21, 2024, after a brief illness. Born in Tachikawa, Japan to the late Robert and Catherine (Barnes) Bonetti, Russ spent his childhood on various Air Force Bases across the States. His favorite was Holloman AFB in New Mexico, where he was lucky enough to live at the onset of the space program and witnessed numerous launches. After attending St. Anselm College, Russ was a radio disc jockey in Springfield, MA, where he met many stars in their early days, including a struggling Bruce Springsteen, who slept on the couch of Russ’s less-than-impressed parents after a gig. Russ spent most of his career in mortgage banking and sales, but retained his love and encyclopedic knowledge of music throughout his life and often treated family and friends to handpicked CDs or records, particularly of Sun Ra and Bob Dylan, two of his favorites.

Well-read and well-lived, Russ could hold forth on nearly any topic and was brimming with good humor, intelligence and kindness. Russ cared deeply about Cohasset, his home for many decades and worked hard to preserve its natural beauty and history, including through his work on the town’s Community Preservation Committee. In the summertime, he could be found in Narragansett, RI, where he could ride a wave with the best of them and routinely enjoyed a scoop or two of ice cream from Brickley’s. Witty and fun-loving, Russ never passed up a chance to engage or enjoy, whether it be a good song, an interesting conversation, a long walk with one of his rescue greyhounds or a glass of Meyer’s rum.

Russ was a loving and supportive partner to his wife of 45 years, Ann Fogarty. Other survivors include his sister, Mary Delestatious of Portland, OR and many nieces, nephews and friends. In lieu of flowers, donations in Russ’s memory may be made to a charity of your choice.

A Memorial Service is being planned for a later date.