Mario Russo

Mauro Mario “Joe” Russo was born in Bronx, NY on June 20, 1925 to Raphael Russo and Ippolitta Scardigno, immigrants from Foggio, Italy.

His parents did not want him to be adversely influenced by the city life so they gave him his first saxophone. At fourteen, he played his first gig at a New Year’s Eve celebration and his musical career was launched.

During WWII, Joe was inducted into the Navy and assigned to a tour of duty at the Navy School of Music, Washington DC where he served as a staff member. His talent for languages made him an early recruit for the OSS, the forerunner of the CIA.

He took full advantage of the GI bill and obtained a BS in Music at Lebanon Valley College where he served as assistant to the college’s Director of Musical Organizations. He was included in Who’s Who of American Universities and Colleges 1953 and earned his masters at Columbia. Joe then went on to teach instrumental music, and later, various languages at local public schools.

Joe possessed a Pavarotti style tenor voice and sang in many churches in the Washington, DC area. He served as a member of the Paul Hill Choral, The Ron Freeman Choral and the Russian Chorus. He performed at the White House during the Kennedy years; Camp David during the Eisenhower years; at the first performance at the opening of Wolf Trap with the New York Opera Company and at the opening performance of Kennedy Center with the Washington Opera Company.

Instrumentally he was active in DC area dance and concert bands, Blues Alley, Quarter Back Club, WRC radio station, the Baird Hall at Smithsonian Museum, Cherry Blossom Balls and one of Clinton’s Inaugural Balls.

After retiring from teaching Joe remained active in dance bands and performed with the National Concert Band, made up of retired musicians from the major service bands.

Joe retired once more and moved from the Washington DC area, but he was never been able to retire from his love of music and performance. He continued to find an outlet for his talents in Florida where he played in well-known swing bands and sang for the past fifteen years.

He leaves behind his second wife, MaryAnn Fields Jones Bert Russo; four stepchildren, Gary Bert and wife Helen, Laryrn R. Jones, Wenda Bert and husband Steve Martin, and Jeanette Bert and husband Eric Layton; and fourteen step grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, and his first wife Jean Patricia Lipscomb Russo who he married September 13, 1945.

“He (Joe) will be remembered as a fine gentleman, a marvelous alto sax player and opera singer,” said Bill Millner a recent conductor.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, September 28, 2013 at 1:30 PM in the Chapel of Thomas L. Geisel Funeral Home and Cremation Center, 333 Falling Spring Rd., Chambersburg, PA; where Rev. Paul B. Baker will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the funeral home. Inurnment will be in the Arlington National Cemetery Columbarium at a later date. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his name to the Cumberland Valley School of Music 1015 Philadelphia Ave., Chambersburg, PA 17201.