Joseph Frank LoRusso

Joseph Frank LoRusso was born in Brooklyn, New York in 1923. He graduated from Boys High School in 1941 and worked in shipyards in Philadelphia. Although he qualified for a deferment as the sole support for his mother and young sister, he enlisted in the United States Army and served in the Ordinance Corps during World War II. He completed basic training and additional training at Aberdeen Proving Ground. He was stationed in New Guinea and on Biak and was part of the Allied war effort to reclaim the islands from the Japanese Imperial army. He returned from the war in 1946 and began studying at Brooklyn College. Taking advantage of a special exemption for returning veterans, he was able to leave college in his second year and began law school at St. John’s University School of Law during the day while working for the United States Post Office at night. He practiced law until 2000 when he moved to Georgia. When he moved his family from Brooklyn to Commack in 1963, he immediately took advantage of the abundant hunting and fishing opportunities available all over Long Island. In 1981, at the age of 58, he took up ballroom dancing and competed around Long Island and New York City having completed every level of Arthur Murray training. He continued dancing until the age of 85. In 2009, he moved to WellStar Atherton Place in Marietta, Georgia where he enjoyed a vibrant social life as part of that community. Joe LoRusso passed away peacefully surrounded by his children on March 25, 2017 a few weeks shy of his 94th birthday. He was preceded in death by his mother, Maria Rose, his father, Frank Joseph, and his brother Frank. He is survived by his sister Anna Marie Cincotta, his children, Col. Frank LoRusso, M.D., USAF (Ret.) and Desiree’ of Little Rock, Arkansas, Maria LoRusso, Esq. of San Antonio, Texas, and Lance LoRusso, Esq. and Barbara of Marietta, Georgia, three grandchildren, Major Jason Purcell, USAF, Christopher LoRusso, and Gabriella LoRusso, and two beautiful great-grandchildren, Riley and Tessa Purcell as well as numerous nieces and nephews. On Sunday April 2nd, the family will receive visitors from 4-6 PM followed by a service in the chapel at Mayes Ward Dobbins Funeral Home at 180 Church Street NE Marietta, Georgia 30060. Active, retired, and reserve military and law enforcement are encouraged to attend in uniform or wearing emblems reflecting their service. He will be laid to rest at the national cemetery in Calverton, New York with full military honors in the area where he loved to fish, hunt, and run his hunting dogs. Joe loved God, music, his friends, his family, and his country. He will be laid to rest beneath the flag he loved. He will be missed. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to The Veterans of Foreign Wars (www.vfw.org) or Disabled American Veterans (www.dav.org).

Joseph Frank LoRusso

April 15, 1923 - March 25, 2017