Visitation: MONDAY, April 13, 2015: 3-8 pm at The Dietrich Funeral Homes, Inc., 2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst.
Service: TUESDAY, April 14, 2015: A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 9 am at St. Gregory the Great Church. RUSSO – Louis J.
April 10, 2015, beloved
husband of the late
Norma I. (Fechter)
Russo; dearest father
of Patricia (Randy)
Gens, Susan (Robert)
Choboy, Louis J. Jr.
(Cindy), Michael P. (Lisa) Russo,
Donna M. (Michael) Stachowski;
survived by 25 grandchildren and 18
great-grandchildren; brother of Rita and
the late James Dixon, the late Anthony
Russo, Judith (Albert) Gurgol, Sr.
Patricia Russo, OSF and Francis
(Marianne) Russo. Family and friends
may call Monday 3-8 PM at the
DIETRICH FUNERAL HOME, INC.,
2480 Kensington Ave., Amherst, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be
celebrated Tuesday 9 AM at St.
Gregory the Great RC Church, 200
St. Gregory Ct., Williamsville, 14221
(please assemble at church). In lieu
of flowers, memorials may be made to
Catholic Charities of WNY in his name.
Online condolences at
www.TheDietrichFuneralHome.com Nov. 21, 1923 – April 10, 2015 Louis J. Russo Sr., a key official who served under four Erie County executives and directed Erie County Medical Center, died Friday in his Amherst home. He was 91. Born in Buffalo, he was a graduate of Canisius College and the University of Buffalo Law School. He served in the Army in Europe during World War II. Mr. Russo was a deputy clerk in Surrogate’s Court, and taught business law at Canisius College for several years. He was secretary for Erie County Comptroller Edward A. Rath, and when Rath became the first county executive, he served as Rath’s executive assistant and budget director. He served in a similar capacity under County Executive B. John Tutuska, and was named deputy county executive by County Executive Edward V. Regan. He also served as deputy county executive under County Executive Edward J. Rutkowski. Mr. Russo negotiated the first lease for the football stadium with the Buffalo Bills. He worked with county executives in developing budgets for a number of years without tax increases, and developed a plan for increasing the county sales tax from 1 percent to 3 percent, principally for the benefit of Buffalo and other municipalities at a time when their revenue sources were limited. He also headed the committee that oversaw the construction of the new Erie County Medical Center in 1979. He was named director of ECMC in 1980, and would hold the post for four years. Mr. Russo had a private law practice for about 20 years after leaving government. He was married to Norma I. Russo, now deceased, for 60 years. Survivors include three daughters, Patricia Gens, Susan Choboy and Donna M. Stachowski; two sons, Louis J. Jr. and Michael P.; a brother, Francis P.; three sisters, Rita Dixon, Judith Gurgol and Sister Patricia, OSF; 25 grandchildren; and 18 great-grandchildren. A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 9 a.m. Tuesday in St. Gregory the Great Catholic Church, 200 St. Gregory Court, Amherst.