Antonino Russo

Antonino Russo, 88, was surrounded by his loved ones during his last days before he went to meet the Lord on August 22, 2020, after suffering complications of a sudden onset of lung cancer. Nino was born on April 8, 1932 in Carini, Sicily, Italy. His parents were Antonino and Rosalia Russo. He had 2 older brothers, Vincenzo and Pippo, and 1 younger brother and best friend, Salvatore. Nino and his wife, Rina, have a love story like no other. At 18, Rina moved with her family to the United States in 1955. Nino and Rina wrote letters to each other and after 5 years, Nino proposed marriage. They were married in Carini in 1960 and moved back to Ferguson, Missouri, traveling by ship to be with her parents. They were married for almost 60 years and had 4 daughters who loved him immensely. Nino’s wife and daughters were his life, working back-breaking hours with his brother, Sal, at the family-owned Vinnie’s Pizzeria in Freehold, NJ to provide a happy and comfortable life for his girls. Nino and Rina decided to be closer to her parents, Joe and Anna La Fata, so they moved to San Diego, CA in 1979 where they remained. In California, Nino was an amazing chef and owner of Entrees Limited Italian Restaurant, which was run solely by him, Rina and his daughters. He also owned a pizza place and a restaurant/deli before retiring from the restaurant business. Nino had 9 grandchildren from the ages of 13 - 28, whom he loved with all his heart. The last 8 years he and Rina lived part time in Charlotte, NC to be near his 2 daughters, Anna and Daniela, and his grandkids. Nino loved his gardens and he and Rina have a vast array of fruit trees, vegetables and plants in their yard that they lovingly took care of - Nino was working in the yard up until the week before his death. In Carini he was an Italian language professor. He was a prolific writer of Sicilian history, an avid reader, lover of music, literature, and photography. He was the original renaissance man as well as a jokester. He loved to share his knowledge with others on his website, IlSiciliano.net. He was also an amazing cook, taking all of the wonderful recipes his mother taught him, never writing anything down, just watched everything she did. Nino is survived by his wife, Rina, his daughter, Rosalie and her husband Paul Azevedo and their 3 children, Ray, Daniel and Ali; his daughter, AnnaMaria and her husband Lee Edmonson and their 2 children, Gabriella and her husband Armando Suarez and Tony; his daughter, Daniela and her 2 children, JD and Nina Geller; and his daughter, Debie and her husband Sloane Valentino and 2 children, Jack and Bella. Due to risks of Covid-19, a private rosary will be said followed by a burial service at Holy Cross Cemetery for immediate family only. A Mass and reception will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you please consider dedicating a Mass for Nino or making a contribution to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in his name to help kids fight cancer.