"He was different than the rest of them [her children]. He knew what he wanted. He keeps at it. If

"He was different than the rest of them [her children]. He knew what he wanted. He keeps at it. If you wanted something done, he always got it done. He is very, very well-organized. ... I think he'll be there for awhile. He seems very happy and I don't know any better thing that could come up for him. He does say mass. He still says mass every night in the dorm. When I asked him if he likes it there, he said, 'Mom, What is there not to like?'"
Ann DePasquale Nuzzi
Father Nuzzi's mother
"I knew that he would make something out of himself because he set goals even at those early ages. The family background really helped that out too. They were sticklers with the spiritual side and the academic side. Because of his home life, you knew that he was going to do something. You expected something great from him. He was always the good student. He was the debater."
Roseann Schaeffer
Father Nuzzi's 7th and 8th grade language arts and religion teacher
"He's a real Renaissance Man. Some people know a little bit about everything. Some people know a lot about one or two things. Ron knows a lot about a lot. ... He's a little bit older than me, but we go through these different phases of our lives together. When I was confirmed, he was there. When he had his first mass, I was there. When he got his Ph.D, my brother and I went down to celebrate with him and his family. He did my wedding. When I got sworn in to be a state senator, he came on the floor. My brother, my mom, my sister-in-law, my grandparents were the ones that were there. He came on with my core family. When I got sworn into the Congress, he came down to Congress. He's a real close friend. Ron kind of transcends relationships. Sometimes he's your priest. Sometimes he's your best friend. Sometimes he's like a father and sometimes he's like an older brother and kicks you in the butt. He has good, solid relationships with people, at least with me. He's really just special guy."
Congressman Tim Ryan
Father Nuzzi's friend and godson
"It is a good fit for him at Notre Dame. He is really involved with Catholic education. He is a teaching priest. The students enjoy him. ... He is a natural-born leader. He's very intelligent. He is always ahead of the curve. He is on the cutting edge. He is a teaching priest. I'm excited for the students there. He is a very committed person."
Patrick Donadio
Childhood friend, having met Nuzzi in kindergarten at Our Lady of Mount Carmel School in Niles