One of the most prominent U.S. military figures in history, General Douglas MacArthur, once said, “Old soldiers never die, they just fade away.” It’s a comforting, appropriate sentiment to describe one of the most prominent U.S. military figures in Richland County.
Francis J. Russo, known to many simply as Frank, died at the age of 83 on July 1. But his mark on the community and on the hearts of the people who knew him will not soon fade.
Russo was born on Sept. 1, 1930, in Columbus and attended school in Canton, Ohio. Serving in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, he was stationed in Japan. Upon his discharge, he attended Kent State University.
Russo’s military service led him to eventually serve as the vice president of the Richland County Veterans Service Commission and participate in other veteran services around the county, including the Korean War Veterans Association, Day Spring for Veterans and numerous Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day parades.
“Frank spent 21 years on the Richland County Veterans Service Commission, and I spent those 21 years with him,” said Doug Theaker, President/Commander of the Richland County Veterans Service Commission. “Frank was extremely veteran-minded. He wanted to do all he could to help veterans.”
Outreach was one of Russo’s services. Never without his veteran’s card, Theaker said Russo was always asking veterans what he could do for them, and Theaker noted that Russo was gifted in responding to their needs.
“He was very effective, always able somehow to find a hospital bed, a wheelchair, a cane or walker, any instrument necessary to help that person,” said Theaker. “Somehow, someway good old Frank could find that.”
Medical supplies weren’t the only way Russo came through for Richland County’s veterans. In an effort to honor the county’s World War II veterans, Russo created a medal with the help of a designer in Indiana and personally delivered medals to nearly every WWII veteran in Richland County.
Over the years, Russo worked for two finance companies and the Central Trust Bank before moving to Mansfield in 1981 to work at Mansfield General Hospital, now known as OhioHealth MedCentral. He retired in 1996.
“Frank had always been involved in the community activities when he was working, but after he retired he almost became a full-time volunteer,” said Richland County Commissioner Ed Olson. “That’s probably the biggest impression I had of him. He seemed to become more involved in the community after he retired. A lot of times people are active during their working life and when they retire you never see them anymore. Frank was just the opposite. Once he had more time he became even more involved in the community.”
Russo was involved with the Health Board, Commander of American Legion Post 16, Harmony House Board, Mansfield Cancer Foundation, Rose of Sharon events for scholarships, United Way, Rehab Center, Area for the Aging, Knights of Columbus, and Richland Newhope. He was also involved in Sierra Club as president and has served as Eucharistic minister.
“I had the pleasure of working with Frank having known him for quite a while,” said Bobby Shirk, President of the Richland County Korean War Veterans Association. “He was very well-respected in the area. He was very dedicated to his faith, and willing to help people all the time.”
As a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, Russo took Holy Communion to nursing home and assisted living residents, the hospital, and the home bound. Among his community projects is the “Needy Family Program” which Frank created to provide 300 Richland County needy families with food and other necessities all year long but especially during the holidays. Russo also served on the Msgr. Dunn Foundation for Education, parish council, and Catholic Charities.
Russo was a staple as an usher at the 9:30 Mass at St. Peter’s Catholic Church. At one such Mass shortly before his passing, Richland Source correspondent Carl Hunnell shared a moment with Russo.
“When I sat down, before I could even say a word, he asked, ‘How’s that boy of yours doing?’ I knew he meant my youngest son, who had received a scholarship from the Richland County Korean War Veterans Association when he began his college career at Bowling Green State University,” Hunnell remembered. “I told Frank my son had just graduated and was already working near Washington, D.C. Frank’s face lit up and he grabbed my hand. ‘That’s great,’ he said with a huge smile. I tried to ask him how he was feeling, but he brushed it off and focused on how I was doing and asking about other members of my family.”
Hunnell described Russo as, “the kind of man who would give his only coat to someone who was cold and then the shirt off his back to someone else in need.” Though he noted words were not enough to do justice to Russo’s memory.
“I knew that perhaps would be the last time I would get to speak to Frank,” said Hunnell of that particular morning. “As we ended our time together, I hugged him and said I hoped to see him at Mass more often. He just smiled and said, ‘I am always around.’”
Surviving Russo is his wife Polly, whom he married on Sept. 24, 1966; daughter, Bibianne (Doug) Galuzny of Delaware; and granddaughters, Clare Marie, Ana Therese, and Angelina Rose.
His family requested memorial contributions be made to St. Peter’s Catholic Church, the Korean War Veterans Association, or an organization of the donor’s choice – consistent with Russo’s selfless spirit.
The Richland County Joint Veteran’s Burial Detail presented military honors for Russo on July 7, 2014, and a Mass of Christian Burial was held at St. Peter’s Catholic Church.
Dalton Derr, a friend of Russo’s, sang at his memorial service.
“We were both active in the community, more interested in giving than receiving, because it is in the giving that we receive,” said Derr. “So that kind of an identity I like to think brought us together. Because of the similarity in our natures, we were drawn together.”
Derr described his performance at Russo’s memorial service as intimidating, but an honor, much the way he considers knowing Frank Russo to be an honor – a sentiment many can relate to.
“My connection to Frank was precious, and he was precious,” said Derr. “Not necessarily in a monetary kind of way, but in his gifts. And I think that is so extraordinarily important, giftedness. He was gifted in generosity.”
“He was a veteran’s veteran, Frank was, and always, always able and willing and wanted badly to help every veteran,” Theaker remembered. “He definitely will be classified as the most unforgettable character in Richland County.”
“He was very effective, always able somehow to find a hospital bed, a wheelchair, a cane or walker, any instrument necessary to help that person,” said Doug Theaker. “Somehow, someway good old Frank could find that.”
