Frankie’s Mission honors past Bay Ridge Lawyers Association president Pat Russo

November 7, 2017 By Rob Abruzzese, Legal Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Members of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association were at Gargiulo's Restaurant in Coney Island on Friday to support their past president. Pictured from left: Mary Ann K. Stathopoulos, BRLA President Margaret Stanton, Pat Russo and Rosa Pannitto. Eagle photo by Rob Abruzzese

Share this:

Pat Russo, a past president of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association, was honored by Frankie’s Mission during the 10th Annual Hopefest in Coney Island on Friday.

The other honorees included Filippo Giuffre, owner of Zio Toto Restaurant and Mancini Giuffre Salon and Spa, and Gilda Piccini-King, the former associate principal of Fontbonne Hall Academy. Johnny Volpe, a childhood cancer survivor and recipient of the Michele Grace Marciano Award of Hope.

“This has been a tough week for the city of New York and I’m thankful to share this night with wonderful honorees and end this week on a high note,” said Pat Russo, who referred to a terrorist attack that had happened in Manhattan earlier in the week. “I’m thankful to share this night with wonderful honorees, Filippo and all that he has done as a community minded business person. I love sharing this night with Gilda King because she is second to none in terms of being an educator and a friend and I’m so glad that they had me speak before Johnny Volpe because that would have been impossible.”

Frankie’s Mission is a local organization that provides assistance to families of children with cancer nationwide. It’s name after Francesco Loccisano, who was diagnosed with cancer at age 14 and died two years later.

“We’re here to support a life that ended too shortly, but a spirit that lives on brightly. It’s a tribute to Frankie that we are all here. In the past 10 years so much has been done and I hope that tonight is a continuation of what this group has accomplished.”

Russo, a partner at Windels, Marx, Lane and Mittendorf, served as president of the Bay Ridge Lawyers Association from 2012-2013.