RIP Russell Titland
I only met Russell a few years ago. Although I didn’t know him a long time, I had some great conversations with Russ. He was the chef at The Wicked Monk and many restaurants in Bay Ridge.
Services For Russell Titland – Monday January 18th 2 PM – 4 PM and 7 PM – 9 PM At Colonial Funeral Home (2819 Hylan Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10306).
Mass – Tuesday January 19th At 10 AM At Colonial Funeral Home
Burial At Oceanview Cemetary (3315 Amboy Road, Staten Island, NY 10306.
On Sunday, January 31st, a fundraiser will take place at the Wicked Monk (9510 Third Avenue) and will help raise money for his family to help with funeral costs, as well as a memorial (Info here)
Russ’ friend Mike made and shared this video.
We met Russ when we attended a party at the Wicked Monk several years ago. Lee asked the waitress a question about how something was prepared. The waitress went and told Russell what Lee asked and Russell came out to speak with us. Lee’s a former chef). The next time we stopped in the Monk, Russell happened to be leaving the kitchen and he said hello to us. He remembered my first name (no one ever does that’s why people call me by my last name). Each time we stopped in, we would talk with Russell. Eventually, we became friends and he came over and grilled with Lee a few times. For years, I thought Russ was a native Ridgitte. Russ knew Bay Ridge well and had so many stories to tell us about things that happened in the neighborhood, but his early roots, like mine are from Sunset Park (when the area had many Norwegian families). When we were discussing neighborhoods, he mentioned that he went to PS 105 and we compared notes as I also went their for one year – kindergarten.
Russ had cancer for a few years. I didn’t know about it right away. When I saw him losing weight, I asked him how he was doing it. I didn’t expect to hear he had cancer. It felt like time stood still for the next hour that we talked.
The world lost a kind person and great chef.
Prayers for Russell’s family.
Hugs,
marlene
Topics: Bay Ridge | 1 Comment »
January 17th, 2016 at 9:00 pm
This was so beautifully written about our friend Russell… I showed this to his parents today. Thank you so much..