Services Set For Former Hoboken Mayor Anthony Russo

HOBOKEN, NJ — Services will be held this Friday and Saturday in Hoboken for former Mayor Anthony Russo, 74, who oversaw Hoboken during a period of rapid growth from 1993 through 2001.

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

Visitation will be held on Friday from 2 to 8 p.m. at Failla Memorial Home, 533 Willow Ave., Hoboken. Parking available in rear of memorial home off Sixth Street. Due to CDC Guidelines, visitors are asked to wear a face covering and practice social distancing.

Funeral mass will be offered on Saturday at 9:30 a.m. at St. Francis Church, Hoboken. For Livestreaming of his mass, please go to Saint Francis Church Hoboken YouTube. Interment will follow at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington.

[Watch the service virtually using this link.]

Russo was born in Hoboken to his parents Josephine (Ferrante) Russo (who passed away in 2011 at age 100), and Nick Russo.

According to his obituary, Russo graduated from Hoboken High School in 1964 and from Murray State University in Kentucky. He returned to Hoboken and became a special education teacher with the Hoboken Public School District in 1970. Soon afterward, he received his master’s degree in Special Education.

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

Russo was preceded in death by his brothers, Michael “Mikey” Russo and Frank Russo, according to the obituary.

He 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.

Political career

Russo, known as a passionate and colorful mayor who took pride in his hometown, oversaw Hoboken during a period of rapid growth, including the redevelopment of the formerly industrial waterfront. 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. "He tapped into a very good issue."

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 bringing the waterfront projects to fruition, including a vast 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."

His post earned hundreds of comments. One person wrote, "Your dad was my teacher in high school and he was the best loving and caring...he made Hoboken feel like home."

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:

<blockquote>

"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.

"In a hard-fought election for Mayor in 1993, Councilman Anthony Russo was competing against many other contenders. His ability to speak to the people of Hoboken in a clear manner; projecting faith and determination to move the city forward, led to victory in a June Runoff election and being sworn in as Mayor on July 1, 1993.

"Hoboken needed to heal following the election and Mayor Anthony Russo promoted Change with his slogan 'Turn the Tide' and promoted Unity by having discussions with various activist groups and hiring several who campaigned for other mayoral candidates, setting a tone of inclusion in government.

"The result: Hoboken was reborn as a waterfront city! The long fought battle for public access to Hoboken’s waterfront became a reality!

"Russo went on to stream-line city government from nine departments to three, form the 1st public/private water utility agreement in the United States, attain the coveted ISO Insurance Rating through improvements in the Fire Department, modernize the Hoboken Police Department and produce stable city budgets year after year."

"Mayor Anthony Russo brought pride back to Hoboken in a very big way. It was evident to all that we would succeed – and Hoboken continued succeeding through a 2nd term ending on June 30, 2001. Mayor Anthony Russo was a beloved person in Hoboken. He walked the streets daily receiving and sharing greetings. His vision for Hoboken was broad enough that everyone shared in the excitement of a renewed spirit of community."

"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."

</blockquote>

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 or St. Francis Church Memorial Fund in Anthony ’s memory.

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

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