HOWARD BEACH — Gary Russo, an iron-worker on the Second Avenue Subway known for his Frank Sinatra-like voice, was found dead in an apparent suicide last week — months after he walked out of his 90th Street home and disappeared.
Police discovered Russo, 54, hanging from a tree with a rope around his neck at Spring Creek Park and was pronounced dead at roughly 2 p.m. on Aug. 28, according to authorities.
Russo, a resident of Howard Beach, had been dealing with depression before he went missing, his family told DNAinfo on Aug. 5.
"He hasn't been feeling well," his ex-wife Tracy Russo told DNAinfo at the time. "He had been depressed and speaking to his friends and family about how depressed he was. He wasn't happy at work and felt maybe he wasn't doing enough."
Russo, a father of two, was last seen by his sister-in-law, Lee Russo, on July 28, when he walked out of the home they shared just after 1 a.m.
His family, friends and the NYPD had been searching for him ever since. His car, a black Dodge Dakota, was found parked in the weeds of Howard beach on Aug. 3, according to Tracy Russo.
Before he disappeared, Russo had worked for Kiewit Construction for more than 15 years, although he had taken off time to focus on his singing career, according to Bob Kula, the vice president of the company.
In 2011, Russo was working on the Second Avenue Subway at 86th Street when he began to sing jazz standards to drown out the sounds of construction. He was dubbed the "Second Avenue Sinatra" after video of his candid performance went viral on YouTube.
He had continued to sing at various restaurants around the city and most recently had worked as a foreman for the Bayonne Bridge project in New Jersey, according to Tracy Russo.
"We’re deeply saddened by the news," Kula said. "Gary was a valued member of our team and the Kiewit family. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Gary’s family and friends, including the many who worked with him on Kiewit projects. He will be missed."
A memorial service is slated for Sept. 4 at a funeral home in Ozone Park.
