Domenic Thomas Russillo

D(omenic) Thomas Russillo
Born	March 9, 1902[1][2] Providence, Rhode Island[1]
Died	1978[2] / 1980[3] Cranston, Rhode Island
Nationality	USA
Known for	Architect

Domenic Thomas Russillo, AIA (1902--1980), was a minor American architect who practiced in mid-20th-century Rhode Island and Massachusetts under the firm name D. Thomas Russillo.

Early life and education

Russillo was born March 9, 1902 in Providence, Rhode Island, and educated at the Rhode Island School of Design from 1922-1924 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1926.^[1]

Career

Russillo began his career as a designer for the architectural firm of Jackson, Robertson & Adams, working there from 1928 to 1932.^[1] He started his own firm, D. Thomas Russillo in 1933 during the Great Depression, eventually registering as an architect in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.^[1] He became a member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the AIA in 1944.^[1] As of 1970, he worked at 334 Westminster Mall, Providence, Rhode Island 02903.^[1] William Mackenzie Woodward of the Rhode Island Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission declared that “Russillo was clearly aware of and more than merely competent in producing designs within the contemporary mainstream.”^[2] Many of Russillo's residential designs can be found "on the East Side in the Blackstone Boulevard area, as well as the Smith Hill neighborhood. Most of these houses are Moderne- or Frank-Lloyd-Wright-inspired designs."^[2]

Personal life

As of 1970, he lived at 66 S. Hill Dr, Dean Estates, Cranston, Rhode Island 02910.^[1] The AIA was notified of his death in 1980.^[3] Another source claims he died in 1978.^[2]

Works

• The Anthony Gizzarelli House (1947-48), 665 Pleasant Valley Parkway^[2]
• The Leonard Levin House (1954-1955), 80 Clarendon Avenue^[2]
• The Peter Bardach House (1958), 33 Intervale Road^[2]
• Believe Shopping Center (Newport, Rhode Island) (1960)^[1]
• The Max & Roslyn H. Winograd House (1962), 100 Clarendon Avenue^[2]
• The Boy Scouts of America Narragansett County Scout Center Building (Providence, Rhode Island) (1965)^[1]
• The 175 Broad Street (now office, former Boy Scouts of America Camp Yawgoog (Rockville, Rhode Island) (c.1962,^[2] dated 1965^[1])
• The Fall River Jewish Home for the Aged (Fall River, Massachusetts) (1967)^[1]
• The Norteck, Inc., Building (Cranston, Rhode Island) (1969)^[1]

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j k l m} "Domenic Thomas Russillo" American Architects Directory, Third Edition (New York City: R.R. Bowker LLC, 1970), p.790.
2. ^ ^{a b c d e f g h i j} Boy Scout Lodge, Rhode Island, with a brief biography of the architect, Artinruins.com (Accessed 10 April 2011) -- Relevant section: "The building was erected around 1962. The man responsible for the design of this structure was D. Thomas Russillo (1902-1978), a local architect. In addition to the Boy Scout Building, he designed several houses on the East Side in the Blackstone Blvd area as well as the Smith Hill neighborhood. Most of these houses are Moderne- or Frank-Lloyd-Wright-inspired designs. According to Wm. Mackenzie Woodward of the RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, “Russillo was clearly aware of & more than merely competent in producing designs within the contemporary mainstream.” Thanks to Mr. Woodward for the brief bio of the architect, and for the list of properties he designed. Russillo-designed homes (and links to Google maps): The Anthony Gizzarelli House (1947-48), 665 Pleasant Valley Parkway (no street view availble) The Leonard Levin House (1954-55), 80 Clarendon Avenue The Max & Roslyn H. Winograd House (1962), 100 Clarendon Avenue The Peter Bardach House (1958), 33 Intervale Road."
3. ^ ^{a b} "Domenic Thomas Russillo" [http://communities.aia.org/sites/hdoaa/wiki/Wiki%20Pages/ahd1038716.aspx The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects], Last modified at 11/20/2009 9:49 AM by Nancy Hadley (Accessed 17 January 2010)

Persondata
Name	Russillo, Domenic Thomas
Alternative names	Russillo, D. Thomas
Short description	Architect
Date of birth	March 9, 1902
Place of birth	Providence, Rhode Island
Date of death	1978
Place of death	Cranston, Rhode Island