Obituary - Pamela C. Vanzura Russo

Pamela C. Vanzura Russo
August 1, 1953 - March 14, 2011

Pamela RussoPamela C. Russo, of Maitland, passed away March 14, 2011, following a long and courageous fight with multiple myeloma.

Pam was a devoted grandmother (known to her two year old grandson, Ryan, simply as Mimi), a great and very supportive mom, a loving wife, a professional educator and a truly gracious person known for her kindness. Pam enjoyed many friends and was loved by all who knew her.

Pam was born August 1, 1953, in Bryan, Texas to Bruce and Connie Vanzura and was raised in Austin, Texas. After having lived in Houston and Corpus Christi, Texas, Pam moved with her family to Maitland in 1992.

Pam received her Bachelor of Science in Education, English and History from the University of Texas at Austin and her Masters of Education Leadership, Administration and Supervision from the University of Houston. Pam retired from the Orange County Public School System having served as an Assistant Principal at Liberty Middle School and as a Dean and Teacher at Corner Lake Middle School. Prior to moving to Maitland, Pam also taught in Corpus Christi, Texas, at Flour Bluff Middle School, Incarnate Word Academy and Saint James Episcopal School where Pam served as the Accreditation Chair and Evaluator for the Southwest Association of Episcopal Schools.

Pam and her family were members of the Corpus Christi Yacht Club. After moving to Maitland, Pam was actively involved with the Winter Park High School Crew Boosters (former President) and the Winter Park High School Band and Choir Boosters. Pam was a former member of the National Association of Secondary School Principals and the National Middle School Association. Pam was also active in the Parent Teacher Student Associations of Maitland Middle and Dommerich Elementary Schools. Pam was a member of St. Margaret Mary Catholic Church, Winter Park, and a former member of the Creative Arts Center and the Junior League of Corpus Christi and the Junior League of Greater Orlando where she served on the Membership Council and as the Newsletter Editor. Pam, her mother Connie and Aunt Carolyn are descendents of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Pam loved to travel, read, teach, sail, spend time on the beach and follow the Orlando Magic, Boston Red Sox and the University of Texas Longhorns.

Pam is survived by her husband of 38 years, Joseph F. Russo; children Anne C. Russo and David J. Russo; grandson Ryan David Russo; mother Connie Vanzura; brother Bruce Vanzura and his wife Cindy; sister Danya Rogers and her husband Rob; nephews Neal Rogers, Noah Rogers, James Vanzura and Chase Vanzura; her Aunt Carolyn Evans; her mother-in-law, Catherine A. Russo and numerous cousins, relatives and friends.

Published in Austin American-Statesman on March 16, 2011

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