Hey, if you think you're surprised to see this obituary, imagine how I feel! I was concerned and curious about what my obituary would look like, so I decided to write it myself except for various arrangements and the date of my passing which was on December 16, 2024.

I was born on June 27, 1945, in Atlantic City, New Jersey. My parents were Thomas Ferdinand Russo and Eleanor Beatrice (Suprizio) Russo. They predeceased me along with my brother, Thomas Robert Russo and my infant son, Ronald Roland Russo, Jr.

My childhood home was at 24 South Florida Avenue on the edge of "Ducktown", AC's little Italy. I attended St. Michael's Grammar School and Holy Spirit High School (when it was on North Massachusetts Avenue). I later earned degrees from St. Joseph College (BS, physics), University of Delaware (MBA), and Widener University (JD). While working at St. Mark's High School I became an attorney but I spent over 42 years in secondary education mostly in administration (40 years). Eighteen of them were as principal of St. Mark's and fourteen as the founding President of The Charter School of Wilmington. It's worth noting that, growing up, I was the only member of my family who wasn't a hairdresser!

I had no intentions of a career in education but my good friend, Phil Sereni, got a job at St. Elizabeth High School and submitted my name for the position of physics and math teacher without consulting me. It resulted in a job offer and I decided to put my science lab career on hold for a year and get an apartment with Phil in a place called Wilmington, Delaware in 1967. I stayed a little longer than expected and came up with the following theory for public education, "Teaching is a profession but education is a business, and parents are the primary customers!"

I served on the boards of many organizations (Catholic Board of Education, DAPI, DSSAA , Corpus Christi Parish Council President, Wood Creek Civic Association , Dogwood Hollow Maintenance Corp. , Middle States Assoc. of Schools and Colleges, Governor's Advisory Council for Exceptional Citizens, Town of Elsmere Board of Adjustment and Planning Commission, Caesar Rodney Institute , etc.). I ran for the state senate and represented my school twice in small claims court (won both!)

My former wife, Kathleen (Kerrigan), and I raised three wonderful daughters, Maria Fiscella (David) and Kathleen Bonis (Brian) both of Delaware and Nicole Finneran (David) of Florida. We had six wonderful grandkids, Luciana and Brian of Delaware and Jack, Grace, Anna, and Charlotte of Florida.

I had a great run and learned that friends are better than possessions and that your most precious possession is time. It's limited so don't waste yours or anyone else's. You only get one shot at life so don't hold back. Keep a good, positive attitude. You can't control everything that happens to you, but you have a lot to say about how you respond. In the near future get together with some friends and family and share a meal or some refreshments. Have fun and be good to each other. Make a toast to me. I'll be watching, presumably from above! Death is something that is natural and will be experienced by everyone. If you are reading this, let me just say, "I beat ya!"

The arrangements for visitation, funeral, and burial were not made by me but I will be in attendance at all of them and they are: Family and friends are invited to a visitation on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at St. John The Beloved Church, 907 Milltown Road, Wilmington, DE 19808, from 10:00AM to 12:00PM, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 12:00PM. Burial will be held privately. I look forward to seeing you one last time! I intend to send thank you notes to all who attend any of these services. If I don't get around to it, I'm sure you'll understand.