Daniel Mark Russo

Daniel Mark Russo passed away on June 28, 2023, after a lengthy battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Mr. Russo was born on October 30, 1935, to Amelia and Pasquale Russo in the Bronx, New York.

Mr. Russo was a graduate of Rutgers University. He previously served in the United States Army and retired from East Tennessee State University, where he once served as the Executive Assistant to the President and also taught economics for 30 years. While at E.T.S.U., he led a Consumer Education Project for the State of Tennessee.

Mr. Russo was an avid hiker and an accomplished runner. After retiring, he worked with numerous Tennessee State Parks to establish 501(c)(3) support organizations for the parks. He also volunteered at Roan Mountain State Park on the Appalachian Trail to cut back invasive species of plants and was active in the Southern Appalachian Highlands Conservancy organization. Some of his work on Roan Mountain included being involved in the revitalization of the Hack Line Trail and in having it recognized as an official trail by the National Forest Service. He participated in counting rare and endangered plants on a section of the Appalachian Trail for both the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and the National Heritage Association.

He was active in restoring the natural cranberry bogs in Shady Valley, Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his parents and by his sisters, Rosemary Moore and Patricia Annabelle Russo, and his brother, Anthony Russo.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Rosalie Russo, by his two children, Rosalie M. Russo and Patrick Daniel Russo, and by his grandson, Ryan Anthony Patrick and his wife, Victoria Merritt Patrick, who he loved like a granddaughter. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

A visitation of family and friends is scheduled from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm on Sunday, July 2, 2023, at Morris-Baker Funeral Home. A Catholic Mass will be held at 11:00 am on Monday, July 3, 2023, at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church followed by a committal service at 1:00 pm at The Mountain Home National Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy, P.O. Box 807, Harpers Ferry, West Virginia 25425 or to the Rutgers University Scholarship Fund, New Brunswick, New Jersey.

Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 East Oakland Avenue Johnson City, Tennessee 37601, is honored to serve the family of Daniel Russo. 423-282-1521.