Rosolino "Russ" Benigno

Rosolino Benigno, fondly known as "Russ" and "Pop" to those who knew and loved him, 99, of Brooklyn, New York, passed away peacefully at his home with his son Russell by his side on Wednesday, September 8, 2021.  Russ was born on New Year's Day, January 1, 1922, in Manhattan, New York, son of Francesco and Maria (Ingrassia) Benigno.  He grew up in Brooklyn, New York, and has lived in the same home he was raised in as a child, where he also spent many beautiful years with his beloved wife, Carmella, and raising his six adoring children.  Russ was an extremely independent, and hard-working man.  He started working in the garment district of Manhattan, New York at the young age of fifteen, where he met his sweetheart and apple-of-his-eye, Carmella "Millie" Pasquariello.  Russ and Millie were married on November 10, 1946 at Our Lady of Miracles Church in Brooklyn, New York and began their beautiful love story and life together.  Russ continued to work tirelessly providing for his family in the garment district with Paramount Pleating and Stitching for countless years.  After many years working for Paramount, Russ purchased the company and continued to successfully run the business, retiring at approximately 75 years old.  In his younger years, Russ was drafted into the United States Navy, where he proudly served our country on the U.S.S. Taussig during World War II.  Over the years, his family loved spending time with him to listen and learn as he recounted everything he experience during the war.

Russ was never one to idly-sit and let time pass by.  He was always on the move, whether he was keeping himself busy with things around the house, working in his garage, sewing and mending his children's and grandchildren's clothes on his sewing machine, or tending to his garden with his impeccable green thumb, you could always find him in the midst of some sort of daily chore or project.  His family often called him "the ever-ready battery" or "the energizer bunny", due to his boundless amounts of commitment and energy.  Russ was also an avid sports fan over his lifetime.  He enjoyed watching every sport; basketball, football, baseball, and sometimes even hockey, if there was a game on, you could almost guarantee it would be playing on his television.  Although he enjoyed all sports, his family could attest that he was one of the New York Met's biggest supporters; a die-hard fan through and through.  In 2019, he was honored at Citi Feld during a Met's game as the "Veteran of the Game"; a truly proud moment for him and his entire family.

Above all else, Russ adored his family and would do anything in the world for them.  He and Millie started a beautiful family legacy with six children, 13 grandchildren, and 22 great-grandchildren.  As the patriarch of his family, he will be missed more than words can express, but we all take comfort in knowing he is finally reunited with the love his life, Carmella “Millie” Benigno, whom he has missed every single day since the day she passed away on August 24, 2003.  Although they had their ups and down like all married couples do, they truly exemplified an unwavering love and devotion to each other, better than those written in the story books.  Pop, you were the center of our family, the glue that held us all together and we will miss you every single day, but you will be in our minds and most importantly, our hearts forever.

Russ was predeceased by his parents, Francesco and Maria (Ingrassia) Benigno, his beloved and devoted wife, Carmella “Millie” (Pasquariello) Benigno, his best-friend and dear brother, Salvatore Benigno, his son-in-law, Mario Borghese, and his treasured great grandsons, Christopher, Brayden, and Zachary DelGrosso.  Pop is survived by his loving children, Maria Morreale and her husband, Alfonso, of Forked River, New Jersey, Francine DelGrosso and her husband, Donald, of Marlboro, New Jersey, Frank Benigno and his wife, Christine, of Staten Island, New York, Louis Benigno and his wife, Judi, of Ave Maria, Florida, Russell Benigno of Brooklyn, New York, and Camille Pavone and her husband, Michael, of Holmdel, New Jersey, his adoring daughter-in-law, Janet Benigno of Staten Island, New York, and his dear sister-in-law, Anna Benigno, of Brooklyn, New York. 

Pop also leaves behind his cherished grandchildren, Edward Morreale and his wife, Laura, Michael DelGrosso and his wife, Georgene, Vanessa Benigno and her companion, Andrew Gualtieri, Bryan DelGrosso and his wife, Kelli, Louis Benigno and his wife, Angel, Steven Benigno, Nicole Gutierrez and her husband, Carlos, Danielle Nazario and her husband, Richie, Lauryn Benigno, Angela Sansone and her husband, Jeff, Amanda Cassano and her husband, Joseph, Angelica Graziano and her husband, James, and Briana Pavone and her fiancé, Robert Silverman, and his adored great-grandchildren, Gianna Morreale, Michael DelGrosso, Joseph Morreale, Brandon DelGrosso, Salvatore Benigno, Nicholas Benigno, Nicholas Morreale, Cameron DelGrosso, Ryan Benigno, Steven Benigno, Natalya Benigno, Giovanni Gutierrez, Giancarlo Gutierrez, Joseph Cassano, Edward Sansone, Benjamin Cassano, Jack Sansone, Christian Nazario, and Teagan Graziano.

Family and friends are invited to visit on Friday, September 10, 2021, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM and 7:00 to 9:00 PM and Saturday morning, September 11, 2021, from 7:15 to 8:00 AM at Shore Point Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 3269 State Highway/Route 35 North, Hazlet, New Jersey 07730.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be offered for Russ on Saturday morning, September 11, 2021, at 9:30 AM at Our Lady of Miracles Roman Catholic Church, 727 East 86th Street, Brooklyn, New York 11236.  Entombment will follow at St. John’s Cemetery Mausoleum, 80-01 Metropolitan Avenue, Middle Village, New York, where he will be laid to rest with Millie.  For information, directions, or to send condolences to the family, please visit, www.shorepointfh.com.

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