Stephen E. Russo, 61, of Douglasville, Georgia, died suddenly Monday, September 18, 2006.  He was a decorated U.S. Marine Corps veteran of the Vietnam War.  He owned and operated Steve Russo, Inc.

Survivors include his wife, Cathy Leach Russo; daughter Emily Down of Charlotte, NC; mother, Julia Russo of Vestavia, AL; a sister, Normandie  Shirley; a brother Dr. Richard Russo of Pae, FL; grandchildren, Matthew and Kristen Down, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral is Wednesday, September 20, 2006, 1:00 pm, at the First Baptist Church of Douglasville.  Internment will follow at West View Cemetery in Atlanta with Military Honors rendered by the U.S. Marine Corps Honor Guard.

Steve only recently found the site honoring the Marines and Navy Corpsmen of HMM-364.  He stepped right up to the plate to become a functioning member of our ranks as shown by his efforts to "officially" make Colonel William H. Dabney and Honorary Purple Fox as documented here.

Steve attended his first reunion in Fort Worth and told me he was extremely anxious to meet more of his comrades and would strive to be active in all future functions of the squadron.  Fate has taken this opportunity from him and we will miss his exuberance of perpetuating the brotherhood of the Purple Foxes.

Uncle Frank