Basil Russo
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

Basil M. Russo (born March 10, 1947) is an American attorney,
politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...
of the
Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...
, and judge. He was majority leader of the
Cleveland City Council Cleveland City Council is the legislative branch of government for the City of Cleveland, Ohio. Its chambers are located at Cleveland City Hall at 601 Lakeside Avenue, across the street from Public Auditorium in Downtown Cleveland. Cleveland Ci ...
. Later he served as a judge of the Cuyahoga County
Court of Common Pleas A court of common pleas is a common kind of court structure found in various common law jurisdictions. The form originated with the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster, which was created to permit individuals to press civil grievances against one ...
and a judge of the Ohio's Eighth District Court of Appeals. Russo served as managing partner of the law firm of Russo, Rosalina & Co, LPA from the firm's founding in 1978 until his retirement in 2014, except during the years he served on the bench. In 2014, Basil was elected as president of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. He is the father of Anthony and Joe Russo, directors of several successful Marvel superhero films, Angela Otstot, Senior Vice President of Story at AGBO Films, and Gabriella Rosalina, Managing Partner of Russo, Rosalina & Co.


Early and personal life

Russo is the son of the late State Rep. and Cleveland ward leader Anthony J. and Domenica "Donnie" Russo. He is married to Patricia Russo. He is of
Italian Italian(s) may refer to: * Anything of, from, or related to the people of Italy over the centuries ** Italians, an ethnic group or simply a citizen of the Italian Republic or Italian Kingdom ** Italian language, a Romance language *** Regional Ita ...
descent. Russo received an undergraduate degree from
John Carroll University John Carroll University is a private Jesuit university in University Heights, Ohio. It is primarily an undergraduate, liberal arts institution accompanied by the John M. and Mary Jo Boler College of Business. John Carroll has an enrollment of 3 ...
and his J.D. degree from the Cleveland State University
Cleveland-Marshall College of Law Cleveland State University College of Law is the law school of Cleveland State University, a public research university in Cleveland, Ohio. The school traces its origins to Cleveland Law School (founded in 1897), which merged in 1946 with the John ...
. Russo's two sons, Anthony and Joe, are Hollywood filmmakers, who are known for ''
Welcome to Collinwood ''Welcome to Collinwood'' is a 2002 American caper comedy film written and directed by Anthony and Joe Russo and starring William H. Macy, Isaiah Washington, Sam Rockwell, Michael Jeter (in his last movie, during his lifetime), Luis Guzmán, Pa ...
'', ''
You, Me and Dupree ''You, Me and Dupree'' is a 2006 American comedy film directed by Anthony Russo and Joe Russo and written by Mike LeSieur. It stars Owen Wilson, Kate Hudson, Matt Dillon, Seth Rogen, Amanda Detmer, Todd Stashwick, and Michael Douglas. The film ...
'', '' Captain America: The Winter Soldier'', '' Captain America: Civil War'', '' Avengers: Infinity War,'' '' Avengers: Endgame'' and ''Cherry''''.''


Italian American Cultural Organizations

Russo currently serves as president of the Conference of Presidents of Major Italian American Organizations. He was elected president in 2020. The organization is headquartered in New York City and it serves as the national representative of its 50 member Italian American organizations from throughout the U.S. www.COPOMIAO.org Russo also serves as national president of the Italian Sons and Daughters of America. He was first elected in 2014, and again every two years thereafter. The ISDA is headquartered in Pittsburgh and is one of the largest Italian American fraternal associations in the U.S. www.orderisda.org; He is also President of the Justinian Forum Italian American Bar Association, www.thejustinianforum.org; and is Chairman of the Cleveland Italian Film Festival. He has served as a member of the executive committee of the National Italian American Foundation in Washington DC.


Religious involvement

Russo initiated the creation of the Bishop Anthony Pilla Italian American Studies Program at John Carroll University. Russo and his wife Patricia served as Chairpersons of the Advisory Committee of the Marriage and Family Ministry of the Cleveland Catholic Diocese.


Awards and recognition

Freedom Award from the American Nationalities Movement, Cleveland International Hall of Fame Inductee, Academy of Television Arts and Sciences Award, Benedictine Italian Heritage Honoree, Lifetime Achievement Award from the Cleveland Italian American Heritage Committee, Special Recognition Award from the Italian American Festival Committee, Columbian Award from the Federation of Italian American Societies, Justinian Award from the Italian American Bar Association, Award of Excellence from the San Leone Society, ISDA Outstanding Young Man of the Year Award, Multiple United States Senatorial and Congressional Proclamations for various accomplishments and achievements sponsored and presented by: Senator Rob Portman, Senator
Sherrod Brown Sherrod Campbell Brown (; born November 9, 1952) is an American politician serving as the senior United States senator from Ohio, a seat which he has held since 2007. A member of the Democratic Party, he was the U.S. representative for Ohio's ...
, Senator George Voinovich, Senator Mike DeWine, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Congressman David P. Joyce, Congresswoman Marcia Fudge, and Governor John Kasich.


Political career

Russo served as majority leader of Cleveland City Council.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Russo, Basil Living people Cleveland–Marshall College of Law alumni Judges of the Ohio District Courts of Appeals Ohio state court judges Lawyers from Cleveland Ohio Democrats 1946 births American politicians of Italian descent American lawyers and judges of Italian descent