Obituary of Ernest Russo

Ernest Russo, 86, of Lakewood, NY, passed away at 6:19 am Sunday, May 16, 2021, in UPMC Chautauqua. An area resident for many years, he was born September 4, 1934 in Buffalo, NY, a son of the late Joseph and Anna Georgione Russo. Ernest was a 1949 graduate of Forestville High School and earned his associates degree from Erie County Community College. He was employed for many years as an electrician for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, working primarily for Ferguson Electric in Buffalo, NY. He left the electrical trade to run his own successful small company called Ernest Interiors, known for kitchen design and home remodeling projects in Western, NY and Maryland. He devoted his remaining working years to people with disabilities. He worked as a job coach for Specialized Support Services in Buffalo, NY; was a technology trainer for United Cerebral Palsy Associations, Inc. in Washington, DC; led AssisTech, a small assistive technology company that manufactured adaptive mobility and adapted puppetry for children with special needs in Western New York. He also owned and operated Ernie's General Store in Fredonia for several years. Ernest received a patent in 1998 for his ICan Go kit, to easily modify commercial ride-in vehicles making them operable using adaptive switches by youngsters with disabilities. That invention earned him the 1998 Western New York Independent Inventor of the Year award sponsored by the Niagara Frontier Intellectual Property Law Association and the Technical Societies Council of the Niagara Frontier. Surviving is his devoted wife and best friend of 33 years, Dr. Kathleen Gradel, whom he married August 17, 1987, a step-son, Ethan C. Taylor of Orchard Park, NY, and seven grandchildren, Austin, Ethan, Ashton, Peyton, and Greysen Taylor, Tiffany and Edward Sadowski. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters. In keeping with Earnest's wishes there will be no formal service or visitation observed. Memorials may be made to the Resource Center Memorial Program, 200 Dunham Ave. Jamestown, NY 14701.