Thomas P. Russo

Thomas (Tom) P. Russo, MA, CEM of Myrtle Beach, SC, 78, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 20 surrounded by his loving family.

Tom was an award-winning author, educator, and trainer with 30 years’ experience in strategic planning, project management and professional development including 18 years in public health; he served 12 years as the emergency manager for the coastal region of South Carolina. Born in Chicago, he completed graduate studies at Southern Illinois University and moved to South Carolina in 1980 where civic calls were fulfilled by the Jaycees. He served as the 50th State President of the South Carolina Jaycees. Russo’s leadership skills were recognized in 1985 when he received the Clayton Frost Memorial Award at the United States Jaycees National Convention. He served as the executive vice president for the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce. In 2008, he earned the IAEM Certified Emergency Manager (CEM), a pledge to public safety, disaster response and community resilience. 

In 2010, Russo graduated from the Naval Postgraduate School’s Center for Homeland Defense and Security and awarded a Master’s in homeland security and defense. His master’s thesis “Strategic Policy for Pandemic Vaccine Distribution” provided the contextual background to outline a mass vaccination model for the twenty-first century. He was a graduate of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organizational Management, the Chamber’s professional development program, and served on the Board of Regents for the Charleston Institute, a six-year program for non-profit executives. As a practitioner, with an academic curiosity, he served as an adjunct faculty member at Columbia College and served on the Emergency Management Advisory Council at Columbia College, SC.

He is a former instructor with Louisiana State University’s National Center for Biomedical Research and Training academy for Counter-Terrorist Education (NCBRT-ACE) and instructed biological incident response courses. Tom’s writing pursuits, began with grantsmanship, expanded with multidisciplinary emergency response plans, integrating readiness and training. During the 2009 outbreak of swine flu, Tom’s advisory literature for emergency service sectors as well as medical facilities addressed both policy and logistics. His most recent work was a chapter on “Pandemic Response: The Logistics of Covid-19,”, a chapter in Immigration, the Borderlands, and the Resilient Homelands, published in 2022. 

Living in Myrtle Beach, Russo captured the originality of Corvettes built in the 1970’s. His writings have been published in numerous Corvette magazines, and served as the lead technical writer for several National Corvette Restorers Society’s technical manuals. He authored and published the “Corvette Buildsheet Book: A Study Guide for the 1973-82 Build Records.” As a lifelong recreationalist enthusiast, Tom sailed the waters of the Grand Strand, ran its beaches, and cycled the roadways. He also completed 6 Myrtle Beach Marathons.

Russo’s book Chicago Ring Rats: The Roller Capital in its Heyday won first place/Gold for the historical category in the 2019 Feathered Quill Book Awards. Tom volunteered as a docent for Hobcaw Barony, where he was introduced to Bernard M. Baruch whose public service during World War 1 became the genesis for his last book, Wilson and Baruch: The President and His Protégé, Crusade for National Security in the Age of American Isolation, published in 2025. Tom also was a member and former chairman of the City of Myrtle Beach Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee. 

Tom is preceded in death by his father, Peter Russo.

He is survived by his mother, Marion Harrison, sister Diane Diviacchi (Gio), sister Deborah Russo (Ron Majestic); nephews Dino Diviacchi (Emilie), Vincent Diviacchi (Elizabeth), GianCarlo Diviacchi (Jaymee), and niece Dawn Malleris (George); 4 great nieces, 9 great nephews, and 3 great great nephews. He leaves behind his beloved Lab, Sullie, a devoted companion who shared in his daily life and brought him great happiness. Sullie will be cared for and loved, carrying forward the memory of a cherished friendship.

Memorials should be made to: Hobcaw Barony  https://hobcawbarony.org/

The family will receive friends from 10:00 - 11:00 AM, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home, Myrtle Beach, SC. 

Memorial service will be 11:00 AM, Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at McMillan-Small Funeral Home, Myrtle Beach, SC.

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