Michael John Lorusso, 92, left this life peacefully, after a wonderfully blessed life, to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 2, 2020. 

Michael, son of the late Vincent and Jenny Lorusso, was born December 1, 1927 in Brooklyn, NY. He attended public school in Brooklyn and graduated from Erasmus Hall High School where he proudly played baseball. He was an avid Brooklyn Dodgers fan and his love for the New York Rangers hockey team was never-ending. His nicknames, “Iron Mike”, “The rock of Gibraltar” and “Deacon” stayed with him throughout his life. He loved to show off his guns (arms) to his sons when they were little guys. For the last 35 years however, he was best known to everyone as “Poppy”.

At a very early age Michael professed his faith in the Lord and joined the Catholic Church in Brooklyn where he attended faithfully until relocating to Bellmore, Long Island, NY. Michael was united in holy matrimony to Betty Cobucci Lorusso on April 8, 1956, at St. Rose of Lima Church in Brooklyn, NY. This union was blessed with two sons, James Raymond Lorusso and Stephan Michael John Lorusso. Michael was an active member of All Saints Catholic Church, in Lake Wylie, SC while also holding a third degree with the Knights of Columbus. He was a deeply spiritual man and his family knew him as a compassionate, humble and quiet soul; an extraordinary husband, devoted to his wife, sons, four grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 

Michael served our country as a United States Navy Radio Operator on the U.S.S. Missouri during WWII.  After an honorable discharge from the Navy in 1947, he then began a lifelong successful career in the Supermarket Industry for over 45 years with Waldbaum’s Supermarkets in New York. He officially retired from Waldbaum’s in 1992 before moving to Ashburn, Virginia to be with his family. He will always be remembered as a dedicated, hard-working man. In retirement, he worked at Wal-Mart, while volunteering at his church and the York county homeless shelter. For the past nine years, his most enjoyable career by far, was as a dedicated and hard-working “Kitchen Sanitation Engineer” at Sweetwater Sports Bar and Grill.  

He was the greatest Husband, Dad, Grandfather and Great-Grandfather to all of us and will be greatly missed by all. He always reminded everyone and can still be heard saying, “there’s two things I love, coffee and my wife”. 

Michael is survived by his wife Betty Lorusso, son James Ryamond Lorusso of Lake Wylie, SC and his wife AnnMarie, Jaime’s daughter, Valerie Nino, her husband Aaron and their three children, Gavin, Zoey & Harlow, son Stephen Michael John Lorruso of Fort Mill, SC and his wife Donna, Steve’s three children, son Michael Lorusso, his wife Shelby and their two sons Colton & Chase, son Christopher Lorusso, his wife Christine and their two children, Luke and Leah, and daughter Nicole Bellizia, her husband Michael and their three children, Brooklyn, Angelo and Devin. Michael is survived by his younger sister, Mary Shovelson and sister and brother-in-law Joanne and John Shephard. Michael was predeceased in death by his beloved brother Angelo Lorusso and sister Nancy Lopez.

Cremation and Church services will be held at All Saints Catholic Church in Lake Wylie, SC at 10:00 am, on Tuesday, January 14th, followed by a Celebration of Life at his last place of employment, Sweetwater Sports bar and Grill, Lake Wylie, SC beginning at 12:00pm following the Church ceremony. His ashes will be brought to his final resting place The Holy Sepulchre mausoleum in Coram, NY at a later date, as yet to be determined.  

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