Saturday Service Live And Streamed For Former Hoboken Mayor Russo

HOBOKEN, NJ — Services were held Saturday in Hoboken for former Mayor Anthony Russo, 74, who saw Hoboken through a period of rapid growth from 1993 through 2001. They can still be viewed online.

Funeral mass was offered on Saturday, April 24, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Church, Hoboken. For streaming of the mass, go to Saint Francis Church Hoboken YouTube (click here).

Interment followed at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.

Russo passed away peacefully at home on Monday, according to his obituary.

Russo was born in Hoboken to his parents Josephine (Ferrante) Russo and Nick Russo. He was predeceased by his parents and by brothers Frank, Anthony, and "Mikey" Russo.

He married Michele DeStefano in March of 1971. She passed away in 2017.

Russo is survived by three sons, Councilman Michael Russo, retired Hoboken Police Officer Nick Russo, and Hoboken Police Sgt. Anthony Russo; his 11 grandchildren, Jenna, Eric (Camargo) Anthony, Lucien, Lia, Ava, Jack, Niccolo, Michele, Michael and Aliana, and his sister Lucille Sacco and half-brother Ronnie Miller, and numerous nieces and nephews.

'The cornerstone of mayor's legacy'

Early in Russo's first council term, he fought alongside waterfront advocates to reject a Port Authority proposal for the waterfront that many thought was vastly out of scale for their beloved mile-square city.

"He had extraordinary political instincts," said waterfront activist Ron Hine in an interview in 2009.

Hine shared more of his thoughts in a piece this week: Hoboken's Parks At The South Waterfront Are The Cornerstone Of Mayor Anthony Russo's Legacy

The subject of how to revitalize the waterfront — which became neglected after big shipping moved on to wider ports in the 1960s — had vexed officials for decades. Russo took pride in projects that he helped bring to fruition, including a park on a former shipping pier where towers had once been proposed.

Monday evening, Russo's son, Councilman Michael Russo, wrote on Facebook, "Mayor Anthony Russo has passed away. He was an amazing man, and an even better father. Pop you are now reunited with my mom. Rest together and watch over us."

"Your dad was my teacher in high school and he was the best loving and caring...he made Hoboken feel like home," wrote a commenter.

Former mayoral candidate and local attorney Frank Marciano shared a long Facebook post about his experiences running against Russo in a heated election in 1993, and a moment they had in the streets years later.

Obituary

Russo's obituary noted, in part, "Anthony Russo’s interest in serving the residents of Hoboken resulted in an election victory in 1991 becoming 3rd Ward Councilman. Councilman Russo fought battles against budget spending, stood up for public waterfront access and campaigned against development that was not beneficial to Hoboken residents on the waterfront...Now, upon this time of loss, we say goodbye to our mayor. With love, continued devotion and eternal gratitude, we say goodbye to a beloved family man, a father, a grandfather, a senior citizen, a simple and good man."

Visitation was held on Friday, April 23, from 2 to 8 p.m. at Failla Memorial Home, 533 Willow Ave., Hoboken. Due to CDC Guidelines, visitors were asked to wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations can be made to The St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Madeline Fiadini LoRe Foundation for Cancer Prevention (here), or St. Francis Church Memorial Fund.

Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla ordered all municipal flags in the city of Hoboken to fly at half-staff for one week starting this Tuesday.

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