In this, the season of hope, Giuseppe Russo’s family is holding onto their faith that he will be found.
The Howard Beach man, 72, who also goes by “Joe,” suffers from Alzheimer’s and dementia and has COPD. He was left alone for a very short time and he apparently left his home on 89th Street near Cross Bay Boulevard. The last time he was seen, on November 4, he was walking south around 161st Avenue and 89th Street.
“We’ve had no leads, haven’t heard anything,” said daughter-in-law Jennifer Rodriguez on Tuesday, December 7. “We were hoping to have found him before Thanksgiving. It’s not the same; it’s very sad and lonely without him.”
The family said they have checked hospitals, churches and senior centers and have circulated 4,000 fliers in the surrounding communities of Ozone Park, Lindenwood, Hamilton Beach, Richmond Hill – even as far as Brooklyn, where he was from originally.
“We’re trying to branch out and look for him in as many areas as we can.”
The NYPD and the local 106th Precinct have searched the area, using helicopters and water dogs, and have been working in conjunction with the Black Cowboys.
And the family is receiving help from the Alzheimer’s Association, which is a national organization. They have been searching as far away as New Jersey and Connecticut.
“We’re concerned with his well being,” said an emotional Rodriguez. “The weather is getting worse. He left the house with just a sweatshirt and vest.”
She went on to say that the family has received a lot of support from the community in their search, and have not given up hope.
“I’m personally still very hopeful that no news is good news and we’ll find him. Our plan is to just keep looking.”
Russo is 5’5″ and roughly 160 pounds with balding gray hair and brown eyes. When he was last seen, he was wearing a gray and green sweatshirt.
Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (8477). The public can also submit their tips by logging onto the Crime Stoppers web site at www.nypdcrimestoppers.com, or by texting their tips to 274637 (CRIMES) then enter TIP577.
