Joseph A. Russo

It is with profound sorrow that we record the passing of Joseph Anthony Russo, 86, who died on August 16, 2023 in Wilton, NY with his loving daughters by his side. Joseph (Joe) was an adored father, grandfather, brother, brother-in-law, uncle, cousin, and friend to many. He was born in Brooklyn, NY, the eldest son of Sicilian immigrants. Joseph spoke fondly of his childhood memories growing up with relatives and close friends in this iconic, melting pot neighborhood, playing stick ball and Johnny-on-the-Pony in the streets. His experience growing up in a multilingual (Sicilian dialect, Italian, and English) household allowed him to not only to become multilingual himself, but also catalyzed his life-long interest in linguistics.

Joseph showed his academic promise early on, graduating from high school at the age of 16. He became the first person in his family to attend college, studying at Brooklyn College where he switched his major from Chemistry to English to Classics, a decision which ultimately led to a lengthy and fulfilling career as an internationally known Homeric Scholar. At Brooklyn College, Joseph was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, in 1957. He was later (1988) named a distinguished alumnus of this college. After graduating summa cum laude, he continued on to be PhD student at Yale University, in their esteemed Classics Department.

At Yale, Joseph received an MA in 1960 and a PhD in 1962, focusing his studies on bringing new insight and analyses into the works of Homer. Joseph received a Fulbright Fellowship, studying in Italy, 1960-61. He subsequently became an instructor, assistant and associate professor of Classics at Yale University, 1962-69. During this time, Joseph also was also a junior fellow, 1965-66, at the Center for Hellenic Studies in Washington DC.

After a sabbatical year traveling Europe with his wife and two young daughters, Joseph joined the faculty at Haverford College in 1970 as associate professor of Classics. Joseph remained at Haverford College for the rest of his career, happily teaching, researching, publishing and hosting legendary meals for his students. He became an associate professor in 1975 and department chairperson thereafter. While at Haverford, he enjoyed visiting professorships at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, the University of Pennsylvania, University of California at Berkeley, the Graduate School of Bryn Mawr College and the Main Line Night School. Joseph was also a researcher and lecturer at the Instituto Fililogia Classico in Urbino, Italy and the Universit? d'Aix-en-Provence in Aix-en-Provence, France.

During his career, Joseph authored several books, myriad articles and scholarly pieces, a series of book reviews, and annually delighted his family members with his clever and witty birthday poems. Joseph's contributions to Homeric Studies as well as his considerable expertise in folklore and the legacy of the translated folktales of Guissipe Pitr? have indelibly and positively impacted his field. His scholarly work was primarily concerned with the Homeric epics and with oral traditions in general. He first gained recognition for several important articles on the Homeric formula and the traditional oral, formulaic style of Homeric epic, and the oral aesthetic remained a life-long interest. Joseph also wrote on Homeric psychology and the ways in which this can illuminate our understanding of epic narrative; his work in this area anticipates the recent cognitive turn in literary studies. His breadth as a Homerist is reflected in his commentary on books 17-20 of the Odyssey, first published by Mondadori in Italian and on his commentary on books 21-22 in the seventh Mondadori edition. Among the American scholars of Greek literature in his generation, Joseph was one of the best known and most highly respected in Europe, where he published in scholarly journals and collected volumes in French, Italian, and German as well as English. At mid-career, Joseph turned to the study of comparative folklore, and wrote on the relatively neglected subject of the Greek proverb and other non-epic oral genres.

A particularly meaningful and significant focus during his retirement years was a sizable project translating Giuseppe Pitr?'s collection of Sicilian folktales (2009), on which he collaborated with folklorist and classicist Jack Zipes. This project was near and dear to Joseph's heart, as it tied into his Sicilian roots and tapped into his marvelous language abilities as well as his literary analysis skills. Joseph also published articles on some of these tales that reflected the same interest in performance that can be found in his earlier work on oral traditions. He never abandoned his interest in Homer, and in 2015 gave the inaugural talk in Yale's Adam and Anne Amory Parry Lecture series: "The Ghost of Patroclus and the Language of Achilles."

Joseph regularly taught Greek at every level, to the delight and satisfaction of his students. He also taught (to large numbers) the department's course on mythology, enriched by his knowledge of comparative myth and folktale and his interest in psychological and psychoanalytic approaches. With a colleague in the English department, he designed and taught a new Introduction to Folklore course, also deservedly popular. His interest in gender issues led him to teach the department's first course on women in antiquity. Not surprisingly therefore, well after his years of active teaching, Joseph was often contacted by students who expressed interest in continuing to dialogue with him. Joseph prized these opportunities for conversations and idea-swapping.

When not teaching and writing, close family and friends were privileged to be the recipients of Joseph's wonderful cooking, beautifully played recorder melodies, and also to view his artistic creations. Joseph was an excellent amateur painter and pastel artist, and enjoyed creating abstract watercolors after his motor neuron disease impacted his fine motor abilities. He will also be remembered for his verbal gifts of storytelling, reciting elaborate jokes - complete with accurate accents when applicable, and sharing detailed memories of his childhood, of times traveling with Sally - and of countless experiences he had enjoyed with his friends over the years.

To complement his cooking skills, Joseph loved gardening - growing the eggplant and tomatoes he needed to make authentic ratatouille and Caponata. Homemade pasta was another "Giuseppe" specialty. Joseph and his wife Sally were also avid travelers, visiting France and Italy annually, to spend time with the treasured friends they had made there over the years. These trips were a bedrock of their lives, throughout their professional years as well as long into their retirement.

Above all these professional accomplishments and personal hobbies, Joseph considered the greatest experience of his life to be his 55 year marriage to Sally Wise Russo. He often mentioned his immense gratitude for having met and married Sally. Joseph and Sally found one another as graduate students at Yale, pursuing their respective PhDs, in 1958. They married in 1960. Sally ultimately became a highly respected marriage and family therapist, and hospital administrator, in the Philadelphia area, while also being an essential pillar of Joseph's luminous career. Sally's intellect, wit, charm, beauty and social grace created a necessary backdrop and perfect complement to Joseph's unique abilities, per Joseph himself:

"Much of this was made possible by Sally, who already knew more about the wider world than I did. But it was the combination Sally and Joseph made together, the special spark of energy given off when the two nuggets of our personalities were struck together, that created an energized and attractive aura that drew interesting people to us, even as we were drawn to them. It has been a life of constant rich encounters: with people, with countries, with cities, with landscapes, with foreign customs and languages and cuisines and lifestyle. What a life. Amazing. I think I too have a claim to call myself 'a bridegroom married to amazement'." ~ J. Russo 3.2016, revised 3.2023.

In retirement, Joseph and Sally loved hosting family parties and gatherings for friends at their home in Wilton, New York. These events were filled with the typical delicious Joseph-prepared food, great music, and fun and lively conversations and games. They continued to travel to Europe several times a year and also loved visiting NYC, Boston and their art museums and restaurants. They relished time spent with their grandchildren, enriching their lives with art activities, cooking lessons and poetry exploration. They were, of course, very involved in their grandchildren's education. They took particular pleasure in attending their granddaughter Maisie's numerous Sinfonietta orchestra concerts, in which Maisie played the violin, reflecting Joseph's musical abilities. In addition, they regularly held film and literature discussion sessions with their grandson Phineas, infusing his childhood with their insight and knowledge. These early sessions surely influenced Phineas' later decision to study screenwriting in college. During this time, Joseph also pursued his interest in art, taking painting and drawing classes through Saratoga Arts, which led to being included in an art exhibition!

Together Joseph and Sally joined the Unitarian Universalist Church of Saratoga Springs, forming many new friendships. Always an activist, Joseph (and Sally) expanded these endeavors, continuing to support the national organizations important to them (Doctors without Borders, Planned Parenthood, Southern Poverty Law Center, etc.) while also donating locally, i.e., The Franklin Community Center, Shelters of Saratoga, and The League of Women Voters and attending local rallies. After Sally's passing, Joseph continued their tradition of community involvement, starting a folk song singing group, a religious studies group, attending an Italian Conversation group, and launching a Shakespeare play-reading group with his new friends. He also joined the Methodist Church of Saratoga Springs (in honor of Sally's upbringing), where he was an active member of their choir. Although he was no longer able to play the recorder due to the progression of his motor neuron disease, he reacquainted himself with the harmonica - adding several harmonicas to his existing collection - and enjoyed sitting outside making music to relax in the late afternoons or after dinner - a treat for anyone who was visiting!

Fittingly, Joseph recently mused aloud: "I will miss living", which holistically encompassed his love of family, friends, music, poetry, art, language, food, wine, travel, activism, singing, and more. May his example - and that of Sally's - inspire us all to reflect upon "how to love this world"!

Joseph will be deeply missed by his daughters, Nina and Maura Russo (Mark O'Brien), his grandchildren Maisie Guzi and Phineas O'Brien, his sisters-in-law Lila Russo, Maureen Mitchell-Wise and Nancy Connolly (William Connelly), his nephews Scott (Paul) Russo and David (Mary) Russo, Grover (Leah) DiMarinas, his great-nephews, Gabriel, Daniel and Pi, his nieces Irene, Kathleen, and Rosalind, and extended family members, colleagues, former students and many friends. He is predeceased by his beloved wife Sally Wise Russo and his dear younger brother Robert Russo.

A Celebration of Life is being planned for a future date. Donations in Joseph's honor may be made to the following organizations: Planned Parenthood, Doctors without Borders, Southern Poverty Law Center, the ACLU, or a social justice organization that has personal meaning.