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Show 6B Tbe Salt Lake Tribune f,A Sunday, July 24, 1983 Forget the Fertilizer , Plants Need Puccini , Says Ernest R. Russo By Anne Mathews Tribune Staff Writer Cigar butt in the corner of his mouth, salt and pepper mustache, the commanding figure of Ernest Robert Russo is familiar to almost every Salt Lake City official. Mr. Russo retired as superintendent of the Liberty Park Green house on July 1 after 50 years service with the City's Parks Depart-ment. He has been impresario of the ' greenhouse, from which all the citys flowers come, for the past SO years. While being interviewed at his office at the greenhouse, Mr. Russo interrupted himself to yell into the hall. IS ANYBODY HERE? After a young woman showed herself, he issued instructions. Now Hes a Marshmallow I used to to be very tough," he said, but now Im a marshmallow. Mr. Russos military bearing and autocratic manner are deceptive. He is a man who sings to flowers. Mr. Russo first worked for the Parks and Public Property Department when he was 15, as a groundsman. He became foreman three years later. With characteristic humor, he attributes his early success to raw ambition. If I cant get to the top, I get out, he says. During World War II, Mr. Russo had a life right out of an espionage novel. He was selected out of 1,000 applicants to work in the criminal investigation division during World War II. I had the best job in the world, he says. I was always in plain clothes." He was made chief of criminal investigations for the Africa and the Middle East Theatre within a year of entering the service. Broke Narcotics Ring Mr. Russo won the Legion of Merit decoration for singlehandedly breaking a narcotics ring. We kept searching the men we knew to be but smugglers," he remembered, couldnt ever find anything. I finally found out that the drugs was being smuggled in containers the camels were made to swallow, he said. "Melvin Purvis, the man who shot Dillinger, was my instructor. He taught us that if you lightly brush an agent posing as an American with your cigar you will be able to tell what nationality he is by the lan- A ' Romanced Around Pyramids We romanced around the pyramids and the sphinx," he said. Mrs. Russo now works at Weinstocks as supervisor of the alterations department. They have five children, almost all of whom work for the city. Were all leeches," Mr. Russo said with a straight face. We live on the taxpayer. Marie Therese works as assistant director of assistance payments in the the Social Services Virginia Ann works as a nurse at the Veterans Hospital. Barbara Lynn works in traffic violations for 5th Circuit Court. Madelene Kim is a Salt Lake County Police reservist Ernest Robert Jr. is an investigator for the Social Services Department. Mr. Russo has one grandson, Matthew, 3, the son of Marie Therese and Pat Johnson. Hes the smartest and best looking kid I ever saw," Mr. Russo says. Tina Vierra, the same young woman Mr. Russo had issued orders to earlier, came into his office again. After some discussion about what kind of shovel she should use, Miss Vierra said, "Russo is a great man, a great man. Mr. Russo barked more instructions at her. That embarrasses him, she said. Sings to the Flowers John Hiskey, administrative assistant to Mayor Ted Wilson, worked for Mr. Russo one summer while in high school. He was the type of man who would put the fear into you, Mr. Hiskey said. Wed get our shovels pushing fast. We were together in the greenhouse once, Mr. Hiskey continued, when I asked Bob Russo why his flowers had such vibrant color. I sing Italian opera arias to them, he told me. en Salt Lake County custody Friday after two of his neighbors told sheriffs deputies he was chased from his house and beaten by a man. ; The boy, who resides on the 6800 South block of 500 East, was taken to 'the Juvenile Detention Center. ' The witnesses, ages 15 and 13 years old, told deputies the man hit the boy on the side of the head and slammed him against the ground several times. Police are investigating a 26- man in connection with the year-ol- d Incident. Mr. Russo planned all the the flower beds on Main street, the Hall y of Justice, Building and the citys parks, as well as supervising all other gardening. He has won first prize at the annual Tribune Home and Garden Show for many years. He has acted as president of the Italian American Civic league for eight terms and has served two terms as post commander for Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 3586. He retired from the Army Reserve in 1979. But Ive had one Job in my life, he said. And that is for the Parks Department. , A boy was placed under protective ism - guage he curses in. I apprehended several people using that technique." He met his wife Ann in Cairo during the war. This will teach you to not to trust anybody, he said. I was in the Greek club in Cairo with my friend who was an Egyptian major and Ann came in with a group of British officers. My friend introduced her to me and told her in Arabic that I was in intelligence and that she should be careful what she said to me. And he was supposed to be my close friend! "Verdi and Puccini arias, Mr., Russo says. "I throw my arms out and gesture to the plants. And they respond! If they are drooping, they straighten up and get a deeper color." Beating in County Probed by Police MX .1 i-- Tribune Stott Photo By Ernest Russo shows off one of the flowers that he claims healthier thanks to Mr. Russos singing Italian operas. 2 People Injured, Special to The Tribune Two people were BOUNTIFUL one critically, in a two-ca- r collision at 200 East and 300 North, here, Saturday about 4 p.m., police - SUMMER IN P Critically, in Identity of the critically injured youth was withheld pending a five identification. He was riding in a northbound car driven by Wes Johnson, 20, who was seriously jured. Both of the Bountiful resi- - 2-C- Mortmonn Bountiful Collision ar dents were taken to LDS Hospital. tal, according to investigating Officer Brian Taylor. The impact veered the Johnson car into the corner of a nearby house, but damage to the home was minimal, police said. posi-injure- id Al Mr. Russo retired this month after 50 years of military-i- s like service and leadership in the City Parks Department. The Johnson car collided with a westbound car driven by Marilyn Peart, 48, Bountiful. She was treated and released from Lakeview Hospi Stop searching for SOFTWARE VIC-2- 0 IVE GOT THE BEST FOR LESS! 433 C2UNRT 6THEJ2, dTOfcCS DETAIL Cl MMAMON.... iTTW Buie Foods DUST COVERS DATA CASSETTE $y95 $500 PERSONAL SERVICE 36401 05 P & K Software 330 West 2100 South i00 As the line forms 'o. for an affordable downtown Van Court Condominium, heres your easy way around it. City-Count- m 1 i BEAT THE RUSH ,i beautiful new VAN COURT CONDOMINIUM for as Inu as Sii non in downtown Salt Lake CUv is bound to draw crowds But ynur name on the PRIORITY WAITING LIST is vour i hann to brut the rush1 It givt-ou pi mrit in srler tin); one of our new resident rs. and entitles you to special lion savings Because of the AFFORDABLE PRICES. Sai.OOO S60.200 ml on bedroom). 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I am very interested in a: 1 bedroom 2 bedroom j I I I Priority Waiting List Price Priority Watting List Savings $63,000 to $68,700 $62,000 $1,000 I I l to State OPEN DAILY -t AT 51 N Telephone 1) Tilt-phon- 10 2 am noon 12 noon 7pm 4 pm 4 p m REALTORS WELCOME: 3 '; 1 up front o 604 South 100 East. Sait Lake City, Utah 84111 $2,000 MODELS Zip Van couet to $66,700 H- City Sun Valley C ompany. Sun Valley, ID 83353 $1,000 to $1,500 General Public Price E Address MORE INFORMATION CALL Savings TWO BEDROOMS Name FOR RESERVATIONS 8t Priority Waiting Ust SALES PRICES Own Expense) 2 NIGHTS LODGING & 2 DAYS RECREATION FOR ONLY General Public Price 551-080. , i I t t w - I '; Comm. closing |
