William "Bill" Edward Russo

William "Bill" E. Russo, 81, suddenly went home to heaven on Friday, July 3, at 4:52 p.m. He was surrounded by his loving wife of 57 years, Mary Knitowski Russo, and his family, at MUSC.Bill was born in Somerville, New Jersey on April 16, 1934 to Guisseppe and Catherine Russo.

The youngest child, he was preceded in death by siblings Frank, Tony, Carl, Joe and Grace.

A graduate of St. Peter's High School, Bill served in the United States Navy during the Korean Conflict. He supplemented his education through the International Correspondence School System, and completed courses at Rutgers University, and at Union Junior College in Business Administration.Bill served as an Area Captain for the United Fund, Deputy Grand Knight for the Knights of Columbus, Social Director for the Middlesex Borough C.Y.O., and Treasurer of Our Lady of Mount Virgin P.T.A.

He also was a member of the Holy Name Society and the Elks.Bill worked at American Cyanamid as a Compensation Analyst, then a Personnel Director, and later at Shulton, Inc. as Facilities Manager. At one point, he was transferred to Savannah, GA, as a key player in a new facility opened by Cyanamid. Bill served as Councilman in Middlesex, New Jersey beginning in 1968.

He was instrumental in starting a recycling program, and was always very conscious and pro-active concerning environmental issues.Later in life, Bill retired to Mount Pleasant, SC, where he was an avid tennis player and golfer, and a member of Snee Farms Country Club. He also held a real estate license in New Jersey and did some work in real estate during his retirement in Mount Pleasant.Bill was a parishioner of Christ Our King Catholic Church, where he had served as an usher and in recent years attended daily mass.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Russo. He is also survived by his daughter Kathy and her husband Chip Malanoski, his son Bill and wife Sharon and his grandchildren Joseph and Jordan, and his son Bob and wife Anita and granddaughter Carly, sister- and brother-in-laws, and a multitude of beloved nieces and nephews.

Bill's Rite of Christian Burial service and a celebration of his life will begin at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 9, 2015 in Christ Our King Catholic Church, 1149 Russell Drive. Interment will be private. The family will receive friends Wednesday, July 8, 2015, at J. HENRY STUHR, INC. MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL, 1494 Mathis Ferry Road from 6:30 until 8 p.m., with the rosary prayed at 6:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Saint Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to Catholic Charities, 1662 Ingram Road, Charleston, SC 29407.