D. Thomas Russillo

Domenic Thomas Russillo, AIA (1902-1980), was a minor American architect who practiced in mid-20th-century Rhode Island and Massachusetts.

D(omenic) Thomas Russillo
BornMarch 9, 1902[1][2]
Providence, Rhode Island[1]
Died1978[2] / 1980[3]
Cranston, Rhode Island
NationalityAmerican
Known forArchitect

Early life and education

Russillo was born March 9, 1902, in Providence, Rhode Island, and educated at the Rhode Island School of Design from 1922 to 1924 and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1926.[1]

Career

Russillo began his career as a designer for the architectural firm of Jackson, Robertson & Adams, working there from 1928 to 1932.[1] He started his own firm, D. Thomas Russillo in 1933 during the Great Depression, eventually registering as an architect in Massachusetts and Rhode Island.[1] He became a member of the Rhode Island Chapter of the AIA in 1944.[1] As of 1970, he worked at 334 Westminster Mall, Providence.[1] William Mackenzie Woodward of the Rhode Island Historical Preservation and Heritage Commission declared that "Russillo was clearly aware of and more than merely competent in producing designs within the contemporary mainstream."[2] Many of Russillo's residential designs can be found "on the East Side in the Blackstone Boulevard area, as well as the Smith Hill neighborhood. Most of these houses are Moderne- or Frank-Lloyd-Wright-inspired designs."[2]

Personal life

As of 1970, he lived at 66 S. Hill Dr, Cranston.[1] The AIA was notified of his death in 1980.[3]

Works
  • Anthony Gizzarelli House, 665 Pleasant Valley Pkwy., Providence, RI (1947)[2]
  • Israel Sarat House, 6 Holly St., Providence, RI (1948)[4]
  • Anson Building, 24 Baker St., Providence, RI (1950)[5]
  • Louis Kirschenbaum House, 540 Blackstone Blvd., Providence, RI (1954)[6]
  • Leonard Levin House, 80 Clarendon Ave., Providence, RI (1954)[2]
  • Temple Beth-El, 145 Oakland Ave., Providence, RI (1954)[7]
  • Burleigh B. Greenberg House, 6 Woodland Ter., Providence, RI (1957–58)[8]
  • Peter Bardach House, 33 Intervale Rd., Providence, RI (1958)[2]
  • Jack G. Savran House, 8 Woodland Ter., Providence, RI (1959–61)[9]
  • Bellevue Shopping Center, 181 Bellevue Ave., Newport, RI (1960)[1]
  • Boy Scouts of America Building, 175 Broad St., Providence, RI (1962)[1]
  • Max Winograd House, 100 Clarendon Ave., Providence, RI (1962)[2]
  • Fall River Jewish Home for the Aged, 538 Robeson St., Fall River, MA (1967)[1]
  • Nortek Building, 815 Reservoir Ave., Cranston, RI (1969)[1]

References
  1. "Domenic Thomas Russillo" American Architects Directory, Third Edition (New York City: R.R. Bowker LLC, 1970), p.790.
  2. Boy Scout Lodge, Rhode Island, with a brief biography of the architect, Artinruins.com (Accessed 10 April 2011) -- Relevant section: "The building was erected around 1962. The man responsible for the design of this structure was D. Thomas Russillo (1902-1978), a local architect. In addition to the Boy Scout Building, he designed several houses on the East Side in the Blackstone Blvd area as well as the Smith Hill neighborhood. Most of these houses are Moderne- or Frank-Lloyd-Wright-inspired designs. According to Wm. Mackenzie Woodward of the RI Historic Preservation and Heritage Commission, "Russillo was clearly aware of & more than merely competent in producing designs within the contemporary mainstream." Thanks to Mr. Woodward for the brief bio of the architect, and for the list of properties he designed. Russillo-designed homes (and links to Google maps): The Anthony Gizzarelli House (1947-48), 665 Pleasant Valley Parkway (no street view available) The Leonard Levin House (1954-55), 80 Clarendon Avenue The Max & Roslyn H. Winograd House (1962), 100 Clarendon Avenue The Peter Bardach House (1958), 33 Intervale Road."
  3. "Domenic Thomas Russillo" The AIA Historical Directory of American Architects, Last modified at 11/20/2009 9:49 AM by Nancy Hadley (Accessed 17 January 2010)
  4. Elmgrove Gardens Historic District NRHP Nomination. 2005.
  5. American Architects Directory. 1955.
  6. Blackstone Boulevard Realty Plat Historic District NRHP Nomination. 1995.
  7. Woodward, Wm. McKenzie. Providence: A Citywide Survey of Historic Resources. 1986.
  8. Historic and Architectural Resources of the East Side, Providence: A Preliminary Report. 1989.
  9. Cavanaugh, Kathryn J. "PPS Records for 8 Woodland Terrace". http://gowdey.ppsri.org/. May 2011. Web.
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