Nichola Pasquale Russo

Nichola Pasquale Russo, 89, of Rochester, NY, passed away on December 7, 2015, at the NYS Veterans’ Home at Montrose. A WWII combat sailor, Russo later became a mechanical engineer and plant manager. He was born “Nicola” Pasquale Russo on April 22, 1926, in Clinton, MA, the son of Josephine Marino Russo, and Nicola Russo.. However, throughout most of his life his first name was spelled “Nichola.” In his years in Massachusetts, his nickname was “Pat,” but in the Rochester area, he was called “Nick.”

In 1943, he joined the Navy and served in the Pacific on the battleship, USS South Dakota. After the war, Russo married Mildred Jane Allen of West Boylston, MA. They had five children and divorced in 1986.

Russo obtained a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Worcester Junior College in 1952 and worked as an engineer for General Electric, and Barry Wright Company in Worcester, MA. In 1964, the family moved from Shrewsbury, MA to North Chili, a suburb of Rochester, NY. In Rochester, he worked in manufacturing engineering for General Dynamics, Toledo Kitchen Machines, Itek Business Products, Qualitrol Corp., and was plant manager for Kurlash Diamon Deb Ltd.

In retirement, he owned and operated the Village Garden Café in Rochester and was active in the USS South Dakota Veterans organization. He is the author of “The Philosophy of Morals & Values” published in 2000 under the name, “Nicola.”

He is survived by his children, Amy Chambers of Cranbury, NJ; Lynne Dallas of San Diego, CA; David Russo of Piffard, NY; Pamela Valliere of Leonardtown, MD; and Elizabeth Graham of Pleasantville, NY. He was also blessed with ten grandchildren and two great granddaughters.

On Sunday, Dec. 13, 2015, a viewing at 11 am and service at 1 pm will be held at Halloran & Son Funeral Home, 2125 Chili Avenue, Rochester, NY. 14624. Internment will be on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015, at 10 am at Bath National Cemetery, Bath NY. In lieu of flowers, contributions in his memory may be made to the Battleship South Dakota Memorial Foundation, c/o SFACF, 200 N. Cherapa Place, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57103.