Americo Albert Fusco

Americo Albert Fusco
5/15/1924 – 12/6/2024
"Rick" Fusco, formally known as Americo Albert Fusco, was born on May 15, 1924, and went to be with our Lord Jesus Christ, December 6, 2024, at 12:43 pm, surrounded by his family at Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup, Washington, at the age of 100 years 6 months of age.
Rick was the last living sibling in his family of seven children from his father Vincenzo Fusco and his mother Theresa, who legally immigrated to the United States through Ellis Island, New York Harbor in 1906. Rick's father came first and then returned to Italy to marry Theresa and brought her back with him to the United States where they settled in Altoona, Pennsylvania.
Rick would mention that his mom loved Jesus. He would verbally imitate her saying that in her Italian accent when sharing stories about her. Rick didn't have a problem sharing the gospel with others. Rick also mentioned that his mom was a praying woman who every day interceded for her four sons who were drafted into World War II (WW II), that God would bring each home safely, and all four sons came home safely. With so many families devastated by WW II, I would say, his mom's prayers had a profound effect on the lives of her sons.
Rick being one of the sons drafted into the United States Army at the height of WW II, served from March 4, 1943, to December 6, 1945. His duties took him to the front lines, and he shared during one battle, that he knew he would not make it out alive and told the Lord if he brought him through the war, he would serve him full-time for the rest of his life. Following his military service Rick went home to Altoona, Pennsylvania, and worked for the Railroad for 7 months before attending college at Capitol University in Columbus, Ohio, obtaining a Bachelor of Music/Arts Degree. Rick eventually married his first wife Marylyn who died young from Stage 4 Hodgkin Lymphoma. He remained single for 5 years -when he met his wife Leah, through a mutual Christian friend. They crossed paths again when Leah was trying to set him up with a dear widowed friend of hers. Rick who knew his own mind decided he would rather date Leah even though her friend was a wonderful lady. It took some convincing and yet 40 years later here we are. Keeping his promise to the Lord, he went into full-time ministry, serving the Lord as Music Director and Assistant Pastor in La Mesa, California, until he retired at the age of 67.
Rick came from a heritage of longevity of life and the awareness of who Jesus is. His father Vincenzo Fusco was 87 (1886-1974) when he was struck by a speeding cab, and they couldn't save him in surgery. His mother Theresa lived to be 92 (1890-1983), passing peacefully when she went to sleep in her favorite chair. His brother Joseph "Joe" Fusco live to be 79 (1919-1998), John Fusco 83 (1916-1999), sister Rosemary Schuster 96 (1914-2010), brother William "Bill" Fusco 91 (1926-2017), brother Anthony "Tony" Fusco 104 (1915-2019), and sister Edith Earl 101 (1922-2023).
Rick was a person who would sing or whistle his favorite hymns, and we had many conversations around the dinner table about who Jesus was, how God had protected his life, and his desire with my mom to bless those who were less fortunate than they were. God greatly blessed their lives in many ways and for a person who had "2" quadruple by-pass surgeries by the age of 78, and only 40% of his heart function he was a walking miracle, blessed by God's favor. At 80 years of age, he was on a ladder helping his daughter, Jamie, install a ceiling fan in her home. He was never one to sit because he could, but liked to use his abilities, and he said it kept him young. He didn't care for computers or fancy phones, that was always mom's job.
When he was in the hospital many staff members would come by because they had never seen anyone who was 100 years old. We never really thought about his age, because the only thing that slowed down was his body, his mind was crisp and clear, and he was playing family games with us a week before he made his last trip to the hospital. He had a few trips to the hospital over the last three years and always came home. None of us believed that this wasn't just going to be one of those times and we would be taking him home once again. He passed into heaven with the same grace that he lived his life, giving 100 percent of who he was in all that he did.
Rick is survived by his wife Leah of 40 years and 10 months (2 peas in a pod), daughters, Jamie Pittman and spouse HG Pittman, Janet Smith and spouse Stephen Smith, 8 grandchildren, Suzanne Valot, Natasha Hays and spouse Travis Hays, Jesse Valot and spouse Amber Valot, Nathaniel Egbert and spouse Diana Egbert, Shannon Couch and spouse David Couch, Preston Smith and spouse Kristina Smith, Courtney Carroll, and Zachary Smith, 6 great grandchildren, Grace Valot, Xavier Hayes, Leilani Egbert, Trinity Couch, Cecilia Couch, Hazel Carroll, and many nieces and nephews. The thing about Rick is just like Jesus was adopted by Joseph, when Rick (who didn't have any biological daughters or sons) married Leah, he inherited and embraced into his life Leah's 2 daughters and his family just grew from there. He was always a beloved and integral part of his family's life, full of kindness, patience and the grace of Jesus rested on him.
He and Leah visited many people with various needs, taking them meals and blessing others with their kindness and prayers. I have watched others return the same kindness to them in their later years.
The services on Rick's behalf and his burial will be held on Friday, January 24, 2025, at Motion Church South Hill Campus, 16120 Meridian East, Puyallup, Washington 98375. Viewing: 9:00 to 10:00 am, Celebration of Life: 10:00 to 11:30 am. Military Burial with Honors will be held at Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, Washington 98402, promptly at 1:30 PM, following the viewing and Celebration of Life at Motion Church.
We were all blessed at the end of his life to serve his needs just like he served all of us during the 40 years he and his wife Leah were married. He never complained and even suffered gracefully. He is dearly loved and will be missed for a time, for we will meet again in glory, a place without pain or tears, in the presence of Jesus, living in the city of God for all eternity. To know Rick is to love Rick, and to know Jesus, God the Father and the Holy Spirit is to be amazed for the love He has for us. If there is one thing Rick would want to be spoken is this, there is nothing like knowing Jesus as one's Lord and Savior, this life is just passing through to the place that is our eternal true home.