Joseph Samuel Russo

After retiring from work with the California State Lottery, Joseph Samuel Russo called Utah home for the past 16 years.

He was a political activist, an entrepreneur, an outdoorsman, a horseman, a gifted artist, a loving husband of 47 years to Linda Frost Russo. Father to Joanne Spinnelli of Florida, dad and grandad to Gena Dillon of Louisiana and her son Denver Dillon of California and is preceded in death by daughter Mia Brianna Dillon, his son, Ocean Sky Russo and brother Phillip Dean Watson.

Joe will be missed dearly by his first wife Pamela Dillon of Maryland, brother Michael Douglas Watson, wife Janet Cantore-Watson and their sons, his cousins Bonnie Dela, Paulina (Russo) and Joseph Palumbo. He is survived by many nieces and nephews including Brianna, Caitlin, Jessica and Cameron Frost and brothers-in-law Timothy and Thomas Frost, Lon Vansway.

Joseph was born on July 27, 1937, to Dominic Russo and Giacomina DelCielo (Jennie L. Watson) into a traditional Italian family in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He traveled the USA and Europe as a military dependent with his mother and stepfather, MST Sgt. Artice V. Watson and brothers Michael Douglas Watson and Phillip Dean Watson.

Inspired by military life, after attending high school in Germany, Joe entered the US Air Force advancing a career as a linguistic interpreter. He was fluent in German and Russian.

In 1968 he worked as a volunteer for Presidential candidate Bobby Kennedy and thus began his life’s work in service to others.

Some of his volunteerism hours included flood recovery relief with the American Red Cross, storm and fire relief with Team Rubicon, student recruitment for the Air National Guard and the Civil Air Patrol.

At 70 years old he joined the US Coast Guard as an Auxiliary member rescuing stranded boaters in the North Pacific.

Most recently Joe volunteered with the Bureau of Land Management counting coyotes and wild donkeys in the Utah desert.

Joe loved his country deeply and lived his life as a true patriot.

Young folk today looking for ways to help their country in these difficult times would do well to look to him for inspiration.

A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday October 30, 2026, at 11:00 am at Christ the King Catholic Church (690 Cove Drive, Cedar City, UT). A viewing will be held prior to the service at 10:30 am. Interment will be at the Southern Utah National Cemetery at 1:00 pm under the direction of Southern Utah Mortuary. To watch the livestream of the service and share online condolences, please visit www.mortuary.org.