Longtime Pittsburgh Comic Book Shop Owner Dies

GREEN TREE, PA — Comic books were an integral part of Ron Russitano's life. His many friends and customers have stated that as owner of the Green Tree Phantom of the Attic shop, he could discuss the art form at length.

Mr. Russitano died Tuesday, four days after collapsing and going into cardiac arrest while in the store.

"Ron touched so many hearts and lives; he was an amazing father, grandfather, son, brother and friend," said Megan Schmidt, who established a GoFundMe page to benefit Mr. Russitano's family. "His legacy will live on in everyone he touched and he will be missed so much."

Pittsburgh cartoonist and actor Tim Hartman was one of many to pay tribute to Mr. Russitano on social media.

"We laughed a lot, and shook our heads at the plight of this broken world a lot, and shared a love of all things Elvis, and Godzilla and the Steelers," Hartman wrote on Facebook. "He was a good man. He loved his Grandkids. He loved ice cream. He loved his kids and his parents. He was a loyal friend."

Funeral arrangements for Mr. Russitano were not immediately available Wednesday.