William P. Russo Sr. “Bill”

I am a 77 year (old in body) young at heart Italian, happily committed male specimen who is endeavoring to spread the “Good News” with the help of my partner (Rev. Terry J. McGuire) of almost 11 years come December 13th 2008. Raised Catholic, and truth be told if my Mother had had her wishes, I would have become a Priest. I was married and fathered 5 children and proud grandfather of six. (which adore my Partner) My career ended in 1987 as a retired Vice President Human Resources of a Shipbuilding industry in Pennsylvania. 

In April of 1987 I met my partner of six years Shelly who passed away in March of 1993 from AIDS related illness. While committed to Shelly we were heavily involved in AIDS Delaware and the AIDS memorial quilt (Was in the march in Washington for the Quilt and had the pleasure with Shelly to meet and march with Ms. Lilly Thomlin) and spent many volunteer hours on these two projects. It was through Shelly that I became a Presbyterian and we both joined West Presbyterian Church in Wilmington, De.

Moved to Florida in 1994 to start fresh and got involved in an AIDS organization in Clearwater Florida, as a Volunteer in the Buddy Program, the Condom Run and Fundraiser’s and that’s where I met and became committed to Terry in December of 1996.

I was the first openly gay Ordained Elder of the Presbyterian Church and Gay Member of sessions at the Good Samaritan Presbyterian/UCC Church and the contact for the Presbytery’s More Light, affirming gay’s in their congregations and a participant for many years and still spreading the good news to everyone who will listen. I was the Florida Disaster Coordinator for the UCC Church body for several years. 

I find the Progressive Christian Alliance the answer for the many who have felt “left out” of the main stream of Christian Churches.