Russell Mark Gargiulo, age 70, of Powder Springs, Georgia passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 25, 2023 from 10:00 am until 12:00 pm at West Cobb Funeral Home and Crematory in Marietta, Georgia.
There are no words that can sum up the life of Russell Gargiulo. No simple letters on a page or images on a screen can impress what he has left on the lives of those he loved. He was truly a man of greatness, great laughter, great fight, great service and great love.
Born to an immigrant family in South Jersey, he was brought up to work hard on his family's farm, to never complain and to always put the needs of the people he loved ahead of his own. As he grew, his continued work ethic helped him to pay his way through college and earn a teaching degree from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University). The children of East Greenwich Twp were blessed to have him as their Physical Education teacher from kindergarten through second grade. Any of the students who passed through his class during his years at Jeffrey Clark Elementary would attest to the love that "Mr G." put in to everything he did and the love that he was always met with in return. He was awarded Teacher of the Year before his retirement in 2006.
During his retirement Russ loved to do woodworking, make model cars, wash and wax his beloved pick-up truck but more than anything he loved spending time with his family. His grandson Leland and granddaughter Dixie were truly the apples of his eye and could do no wrong to him. Four years ago his family was graced with a surrogate granddaughter name Emmie who he loved as his own. He loved to cuddle up and watch movies with them, to teach them how to play games and to surprise them with treats whenever he could. Because he never let a chance to tell them pass, they will always know that they are loved, supported and watched over by their "Pop-Pop".
Russell is survived by his twin brother Andy, his loving son Christopher and daughter Toni and his beloved wife, Phyll.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Russell Gargiulo's memory to St. Jude Children's Hospital @
www.stjude.org
.