Leonard “Lenny” Joseph Russo

Published 4:31 pm Monday, February 10, 2020

Leonard “Lenny” Joseph Russo, 75, of Kingsport, went to be with the Lord Jesus Christ on Friday, February 9, 2020.
Lenny was born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. He graduated from Franklin K. Lane High School. He worked for Mosler Safe Company (“The best job I ever had”), and later moved to Staten Island, N.Y., retiring from the New York City Transit Authority as a mechanic. The last few years he lived in Kingsport, Tenn., in order to spend his last few years with his children and grandchildren.
Lenny was a veteran, having served in the United States Air Force as a Radio Repairman. He loved to spend time with his family, play with his electric trains, play the guitar, he loved working with his hands (he loved to fix stuff), and go junking.
Lenny was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and will be truly missed by those who loved him.
Preceding him in death are his father, Nicola Russo; mother, Josephine DiNapoli Russo; brother, Anthony Russo; sister, Mary Ann Russo Giacomino Massa; and sister-in-law, Barbara Russo.
Surviving are his wife, Joyce Russo, of Staten Island, N.Y.; daughters, Jenny Russo Pritchard and husband Harv of Elizabethton, Tenn., Leora Russo Kipimo and husband Bawily of Kingsport, Tenn., Lori Palmese Homan and husband Mickey of Staten Island, N.Y., Sharon Palmese Oliver and husband Peter of Staten Island, N.Y., and Marlena Milburn of Kingsport, Tenn.; one son, Jimmy Russo and wife Susan of Mount Carmel, Tenn. He had seven grandchildren, Joseph Russo of Kingsport, Kayla Russo of Clovis, N.M., Eseka Kipimo of Kingsport, Frazia Kipimo of Kingsport, James Pritchard of Elizabethton, Avery Booker Carrigan and husband Todd of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Matthew Booker of Church Hill. He has two surviving brothers, Michael and wife Margaret Russo of Staten Island, N.Y., and Jerry and wife Pat of Roundtop, N.Y. Surviving nieces are Joanne, Theresa, Marie, Christine, Diane, Nicole and Nancy; one nephew, Danny Russo; as well as great-nieces, Angelica, Christina and Elizabeth; great-nephews, Patrick, Teddy, Nicholas, Milo, Atticus, Killian and Rowen; and great-great-niece, Abigail.
The funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, February 12, at Carter Trent Funeral Home, Church Hill, with the Reverend Harv Pritchard officiating. Online condolences may be made to the family by visiting www.cartertrent.com.
Carter Trent Funeral Home, Church Hill, is serving the Russo family.