Avis de décès de James Russo

RUSSO James M., 76, of Spring Lake Heights, NJ; Venice, FL; and formerly of Ridgewood, NJ; died on May 7th, 2012, peacefully after a courageous four year battle with mesothelioma. Jim, who loved life, his family and his adoring wife Lorraine of 54 years, called these past four years of his life during his battle with cancer, the happiest period of his life due to the love and support of his family and friends.Jim was born on October 1, 1935, in The Bronx, NY, the only son of James V. and Belle Tosques Russo. Jim had an early passion for sports that began with baseball and boxing, but he later switched to tennis, however he admitted to never owning a pair of tennis whites until he was much older. Jim belonged to many tennis clubs throughout his life where he was a proud winner of many club championships. Jim continued to play tennis throughout his brave battle with cancer and only stopped playing two months prior to his death. Jim graduated from Theodore Roosevelt High School in The Bronx, and continued his education at the Baruch School of the City University of New York where he received his Bachelor of Science degree in 1962. Jim went on to attend New York University and in 1966 received his MBA from NYU's Stern School of Business.After college, Jim began his long career in corporate finance in the training program at Irving Trust Bank in New York City, where he met his life long friends, who with their wives became Jim and Lorraine's travel companions on many trips to Europe and various bicycle trips all over the world. Jim successfully climbed the corporate ranks at Irving Trust, when he was hired as Treasurer at Continental Can Company. Subsequently, Jim was recruited by Ogden Corporation as their Chief Financial Officer, a position he held for almost 20 years. After leaving Ogden, Jim and Lorraine moved to Miami, Florida, where Jim was hired by Montennay Corporation as their Chief Financial Officer before he retired four years later. After leaving the corporate world, Jim was a partner in an independent investment banking firm which focused on corporate mergers and acquisitions. Jim never shied away from offering his financial expertise and business accumen to whatever organization or individual that was in need. Jim helped friends and family alike with financial planning and investment decisions. Jim served on many advisory boards throughout his life, and was most recently an active member and past President of the Parish Council at Saint Catherine's Church in Spring Lake, New Jersey.Jim is survived by his devoted wife of 54 years, Lorraine (Dietl), and his three sons and their spouses: Michael and his wife, Barbara of Ridgewood, New Jersey; Stephen and his wife Sandra of Fair Haven, New Jersey; and his son Gregory of Charlotte, North Carolina. Jim was also the very proud grandfather of Alexandra, who is completing her junior year at Fordham University in The Bronx, Jane, a seventh grade student at Fair Haven Middle School, and Thomas, a fourth grade student at Fair Haven Middle School, New Jersey. Jim is also survived by his very close cousin and best man at his wedding, Anthony J. Tosques of Sarasota, Florida.Visiting will be on Wednesday from 2-4 and 7-9 PM at the O'Brien Funeral Home 2028 Hwy 35,. Wall. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered on Thursday 11 AM at St. Catharine's R.C. Church in Spring Lake. Entombment will follow at St. Catharine's Cemetery in Sea Girt.In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his name to the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Memorial Fund, 1275 York Avenue, New York, New York 10065 and Plantation Golf and Country Club Foundation, 500 Rockley Boulevard, Venice, Florida 34293. For more information or to send condolences, please visit www.obrienfuneralhome.com