Fireworks Over Toccoa (19 page)

After meeting Lily Davis, Capt. Carol Stokes at the Stephens County Historical Society did some research on her own regarding Jake Russo. Part of this was professional work. Part of it, frankly, was of a personal nature for Captain Stokes. She felt she “needed to know” what happened to Mr. Russo. In early 2008, Captain Stokes passed some information on to Mrs. Davis regarding Jake Russo’s life and career. After spending many years traveling the world and shooting shows, much of them with his wife, he settled down with her outside of New Castle and expanded the company business. Over the years Russo Fireworks designed and produced countless pyrotechnics shows, including several for presidential inaugurations. Jake Russo died in the fall of 2004. He was survived by three children and six grandchildren.

A few weeks after passing along that initial information, Captain Stokes received an e-mail from a man who had provided day labor at the Nantucket Island fireworks display in the summer of 1945, an especially large and extravagant show. He remembered Jake Russo, who had hired him to help bury mortars. But what he remembered most, what people on the island talked about for years, was a single firework that was displayed at the very end of the show—a great blue firework, with “the fire of blue sapphires.” The man said he asked Jake about it, who simply said that “he wanted to see someone’s eyes one more time.” Stokes was very pleased to share this new information with Mrs. Davis.

In July 2008, Lily Davis died in her home. The certificate from the State of Georgia attributed the reason for her passing to “natural causes.” She was laid to rest in Toccoa, next to her second husband, not far from the remaining acreage of Holly Hills.

Since that time, Captain Stokes has been unable to find any other record of a blue firework ever displayed in this country that was even remotely like the one shot on Nantucket in the summer of 1945.

In the end, Jake Russo gave his heart to a woman from Brazil whom he met and loved. But he gave his greatest firework to Lily Davis Woodward of Toccoa, Georgia. Lily died knowing this.

I’ve learned a lot while working on this book. Along with the fascinating details of the worlds which I researched and in which I became enmeshed, I’ve come to understand that the process of writing a novel is by no means a solitary endeavor. Though I wrote much of this book sitting by myself in a small room, I was never alone. On the contrary, from those who shared their stories and opened their hearts to those who made it possible for me to work in that room, so many people are responsible for this book, and so many people have touched my life through the process of creating it.

I especially want to thank my brilliant, generous, inspiring, and tough editor, Katie Gilligan, as well as the amazing team at St. Martin’s: Sally Richardson, Pete Wolverton, Matt Baldacci, John Murphy, Dori Weintraub, Joe Rinaldi, Stephen Lee, Lisa Senz, Sarah Goldstein, and the person with the red pencil.

I also especially want to thank my friend and very wise agent, Daniel Greenberg, for nudging me along in this direction, as well as Beth Fisher, Monika Verma, Sasha Raskin, and the entire wonderfully supportive team at Levine Greenberg.

I am deeply appreciative of all the help I received from so many people in Toccoa, Georgia. Marvin and Dolly Tabor. Connie Tabor and Sharon Crosby with the Toccoa Main Street Program. Betty, Patty, Harry, and everyone at Troup’s. Thanks to
The Toccoa Record
and the good folks at the Cornerstone Restaurant on Doyle. Jessica Handwork at Ash-ling Booksellers. Shawn Apostel, Brenda Carlan, Sara Merck, Dale Moseley, and everyone at the Stephens County Historical Society and the Currahee Military Museum. Special thanks go to all the veterans who shared their time and tales with me, especially those with the 506th, 501st, 511th, 517th, and 295th companies.

My gratitude also goes to all those in Lawrence County and New Castle, Pennsylvania, who took me into their pyrotechnics factories and their lives. Connie, George “Boom-Boom,” Marcy, and the entire Zambelli clan. Vic Laurenza, Stephen J., the entire Vitale family, and everyone at Pyrotecnico. Thanks also to everyone at the American Pyrotechnics Association.

Thanks to my readers Jennifer Dail, Lisa Russel, Ralph Wilson, and Lora Sommer. Italian professor Federica Santini. My pal Michael Koziol. And the experts at the KSU Holocaust museum. Thanks also to my wonderful circles of friends and fellow travelers in the very special communities in Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, East Cobb, Roswell, and Kennesaw, Georgia.

And my deepest gratitude to my family, Joel and Elaine, Peggy Tabor Miller, and Mike and Tara and Scott and Jody and all their associated units. Sophie, Charlotte, Eli, and, finally, thank you to Elizabeth, my wife. Thank you for your ruthless notes. Thank you for those great midnight conversations in our closet. Whether you’re in that little black dress or covered in strained peas, you’re the most beautiful, wonderful woman in the world. Every day you take my breath away.