Russell died on August 2, 1970 from an accidental drowning in a cement canal in Lehi. He is buried in the Midvale Cemetary. I put flowers on his grave every year as I put flowers on my parent's and brother's graves.
I remember Russell as a wonderful person. His death devasted all of us as his friends. I still think about him at times and remember what a gift his friendship was.
It seems like Russ was the first to pass on after we graduated, There might have been someone else, but he was the first that I knew. Russ was in such a good place in his life. He was going to the U. and had joined the LDS Institute choir. I talked to him just before he died and he was really happy about being involved with the univesity and the choir. His funeral was so sad, but it comforts me to remember how full of joy he was the last time I saw him. Marilyn
Russ will always hold a special place in my heart. He was a good sweet friend and I was so saddened and shocked by his death. I have visited his grave a few times within the past 40years and think about him often.
This remembrance was included on my own profile, but I just realized it would be more enjoyed here:
I enjoyed my friendship with Russell Berrato during our Senior year. He had access to his father’s volunteer fireman car and the accompanying flashing red light, and we had some fun pulling over fellow classmates after basketball games. On occasion, Karen Dahl would join us, which I recall improved our behavior. Russell and I worked on a computer program together to calculate income taxes. In those days, you had to drive to the University of Utah computer science department to submit your IBM punched cards to be run on their mainframe computer. That class was a major factor in my selection of a career in engineering. I learned of Russell’s death from Stan Rasmussen while in the Provo mission training center. I often wonder what Russell could have become.
Russell was one who loved life and had fun living every moment. I remember singing with him in choir, and the stories about using his dad's cherry red light flasher to harass classmates...especially the young women! He was the first personal friend I knew to ever go streaking....that was at our graduation sleep over at Bob McClung's back yard. He dashed around the neighborhood "au naturelle" alone, because I don't think any of the rest of us had enough courage. Thankfully, he was not arrested!
David Young
Russell died on August 2, 1970 from an accidental drowning in a cement canal in Lehi. He is buried in the Midvale Cemetary. I put flowers on his grave every year as I put flowers on my parent's and brother's graves.
Diane Olson (Varoz)
I remember Russell as a wonderful person. His death devasted all of us as his friends. I still think about him at times and remember what a gift his friendship was.Debbie Montgomery
I will never forget Russell, he always made me laugh. Thank you!Marilyn Miller (Cox)
It seems like Russ was the first to pass on after we graduated, There might have been someone else, but he was the first that I knew. Russ was in such a good place in his life. He was going to the U. and had joined the LDS Institute choir. I talked to him just before he died and he was really happy about being involved with the univesity and the choir. His funeral was so sad, but it comforts me to remember how full of joy he was the last time I saw him. Marilyn
Janice Lund (Harris)
Russell was just a friend to everyone, with a ready smile and a kind word. I still use his story
to encourage my grandchildren that life is a precious gift and we should make the most of every day.
There was one other death in our class that year. Riley, and I forget his last name, died before graduation
from diving off a cliff into water that wasn't yet deep enough. Does anyone else remember this?
Janice Lund Harris
Mary Esther Anderson (O'Reilly)
Janice....it was Jack Cressall who died.
Robynn Lundevall (Urry)
Russ will always hold a special place in my heart. He was a good sweet friend and I was so saddened and shocked by his death. I have visited his grave a few times within the past 40years and think about him often.
Bill Bush
This remembrance was included on my own profile, but I just realized it would be more enjoyed here:
I enjoyed my friendship with Russell Berrato during our Senior year. He had access to his father’s volunteer fireman car and the accompanying flashing red light, and we had some fun pulling over fellow classmates after basketball games. On occasion, Karen Dahl would join us, which I recall improved our behavior. Russell and I worked on a computer program together to calculate income taxes. In those days, you had to drive to the University of Utah computer science department to submit your IBM punched cards to be run on their mainframe computer. That class was a major factor in my selection of a career in engineering. I learned of Russell’s death from Stan Rasmussen while in the Provo mission training center. I often wonder what Russell could have become.
Clair Workman
Russell was one who loved life and had fun living every moment. I remember singing with him in choir, and the stories about using his dad's cherry red light flasher to harass classmates...especially the young women! He was the first personal friend I knew to ever go streaking....that was at our graduation sleep over at Bob McClung's back yard. He dashed around the neighborhood "au naturelle" alone, because I don't think any of the rest of us had enough courage. Thankfully, he was not arrested!