Russell Vincent Costanza – Huntsville, Ala., formerly of Charleroi

Russell Vincent Costanza, 83, of Huntsville, Ala., passed away on May 28, 2020, in Pompano Beach, Fla. Russell was born in Charleroi, to Frank Russell and Jennie Guzzi Costanza, on Sept. 9, 1936. He married Rose Marie Koval Costanza on July 1, 1961, in Monessen. Russ was well known and respected in his community. Russell was a member of Valley Hill Country Club, where he enjoyed playing golf. He was also president of the country club for several terms. Russell joined the United States Navy at age 17 and worked his way to a prominent position at White Sands Missile Range, where he designed and tested missile guidance systems. He was awarded several medals, including an excellent conduct medal. After leaving the military with an honorable discharge, he attended and graduated magna cum laude from West Virginia University with a Bachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering (BSEE) degree in 1962. He began his civilian career as an electrical design engineer for Boeing Corp. in Seattle, Wash., where he also graduated magna cum laude from Seattle University with a master’s in electrical engineering. In 1967, he moved his family to Huntsville, Ala., where he took a position at Space Craft Inc. (SCI), where he eventually became senior vice president of engineering. In his 11 years at SCI, Russ’s engineering group designed mission-critical electronics that flew the Apollo lunar landing module used in the NASA moon missions. In 1978, he began working at Universal Data Systems (UDS), which was acquired by Motorola. After 11 years as senior executive vice president of engineering, he retired to spend time with his family in Huntsville, Ala., and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Russell was preceded in death by Frank Russell and Jennie Costanza. Russell is survived by wife, Rose Marie; children, Vince, Sharon and Mike; sisters, Joan Shafer and Carolyn Valkanas; and grandchildren, Nicolas, Olivia, Anthony, Joseph and Johnny. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. June 3, 2020, at KRAEER FUNERAL HOME in Pompano Beach, Fla., with the Rev. Bernard Pecaro of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, officiating.