Slain Astoria EMT Alison Russo-Elling Is Memorialized As 'A Hero'

ASTORIA, QUEENS — Just six days after she was randomly killed on the streets of Astoria, FDNY EMS Lieutenant Alison Russo-Elling was memorialized in a funeral on Wednesday, as relatives and city leaders celebrated the life of the 24-year department veteran.

"There are no words that can define parents losing their children," Mayor Eric Adams said in remarks addressed to Russo-Elling's mother and father. "There's nothing more unnatural than that."

Along with acting Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, Adams posthumously promoted Russo-Elling to the rank of captain during the funeral, held in Brookville, Long Island — not far from where she lived, in Huntington.

Russo-Elling, 61, who had served during the Sept. 11 attacks and had been planning her retirement, was randomly stabbed Thursday afternoon near the corner of 20th Avenue and 41st Street, steps from her workplace at Astoria's EMS Station 49, authorities said. She died at a nearby hospital.

A suspect, 34-year-old Peter Zisopoulos, has been charged with murder.

But Russo-Elling's daughter, Danielle Fuoco, urged mourners not to hold onto bitterness in a speech on Wednesday.

"Any hate in your heart created from this sudden calamity, I need you to remove that. I need you to replace it with love," she said.

"Do not let your thoughts be clouded by this act of sudden trauma," she added. "You need to replace it with honoring my mother for the hero that she was — hero that she is."

Russo-Elling's father, Frank Fuoco, said during an unplanned speech that his daughter's killer had shown none of the regard that she had given her patients in her two decades of work, the New York Post reported.

"That man murdered my daughter and she would be the first one to come to his aid if he ever needed help," Fuoco said, according to the Post.

Mayor Adams vowed to follow Russo-Elling's example in his remaining time in office.

"I recommit myself and dedicate myself to Alison: a hero," Mayor Adams said.

Zisopoulos, the suspect, lived about a block away from the site of the attack, according to authorities. He is scheduled to be arraigned Wednesday morning by videoconference from Bellevue Hospital, where he is being held, according to the Queens District Attorney's office.

Related coverage:

• Suspect In Murder Of Astoria EMT Identified As Local Man: Police
• Astoria EMS Lieutenant Randomly Stabbed To Death On The Job: Police