Paul Russell

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Paul F. Russell, 65, of Tottenville, a retired city Transit Police lieutenant and U.S. Customs employee, died yesterday at home.

Born in Liverpool, England, he moved to Brooklyn with family as a child in 1947 and grew up there, attending Tilden High School. He moved to Annadale in 1977 and settled in Tottenville in 1998.

Mr. Russell had a 26-year career with the city Transit Police, retiring as a lieutenant on special assignment. He loved his work, family said, and enjoyed collecting police memorabilia.

He then worked for U.S. Customs at Howland Hook, Mariners Harbor, for nine years. He retired in 2005.

Mr. Russell was an enthusiastic Yankees fan and enjoyed watching all sports.

Caring and affectionate, he enjoyed going to Disneyland and spending time with his family, grandchildren and friends.

"He was the rock of our family and he will be sorely missed," said his daughter, Jennifer Mason.

Also surviving Mr. Russell are his wife of 37 years, the former Mary Ann Indelicato; his daughter, Jacqueline Amarino; his mother, Mary Russell; his brother, Donald, and three grandchildren.

The funeral will be Monday from the Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home, with a mass at 10 a.m. in Our Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, both Tottenville. Burial will follow in Resurrection Cemetery, Pleasant Plains.

Services: Monday April 2, 2012 @ 10:00AM Our Lady Help of Christian's R.C. Church

Visitation: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home Sat. March 31,2012 7-9PM Sun. April 1,2012 2-4 & 7-9PM

Memorials: Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation

Cemetery: Resurrection Cemetery (Staten Island)

Location: Bedell-Pizzo Funeral Home

Church: Our Lady Help of Christians R.C.Church