Jill Ann Russo

Jill A. Russo, 55 of Pompton Plains, NJ, died tragically on Saturday, June 11, 2022. She has lived in Pompton Plains with her three children since 2007.

Jill was currently working for Cipla, USA in Warren, NJ and had previously worked for Dr. David Runfeldt in Lincoln Park, Data Scope in Fairfield, NJ, and Teva (Actavis) in Parsippany.

Jill was raised in Saddle Brook, graduating from Saddle Brook High School with the class of 1985. As a kid, she swam competitively and loved to play softball. She played ice hockey in an adult league at Floyd Hall Arena, and more recently enjoyed playing tennis at several area racquet clubs. In the past year or so, she took up running and absolutely loved it. She would go for a run just about everyday at 8 AM. She had recently completed her first 5K and was training for the Disney World Marathon in January, which she planned to run with her daughter, Abby. “Jillybean,” as she was affectionately known by many, was a tenacious woman, and accepted every challenge that came her way. Among her favorite sayings was “I can do it!” and no one was going to tell her otherwise. When she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2014, she battled and beat it. When it came to home repairs and remodeling, she learned how and did it herself. Of course, YouTube videos came in handy most of the time. She was an inspiration to many people, and her ‘can do’ attitude motivate others. Her ever-present smile, coupled with her ability to make you laugh in almost any situation, were among her trademarks.

Jill was also known as “Mighty-mom,” and her three children brought her a world full of joy. She was their number one fan in everything they did, and Jill poured her heart and soul into raising them as best as a single mom possibly could. The sacrifices she made for them are immeasurable, and her kids know it. She was so proud of their academic and athletic successes in college that she was motivated to get herself into better physical shape. She had begun to eat healthier, lose some weight, and exercise daily. Her morning run of three miles was something she looked forward to everyday, and she would text her kids after each run to share her accomplishment with them. Jill was currently at the happiest time of her life, making this heartbreaking tragedy so impossibly difficult to comprehend. Her children have lost not just their mother, but their biggest fan, their greatest motivation, and their best friend in the whole wide world.

Jill leaves her three kids; Abby, Reagan and Jesse, all of Pompton Plains, her mother; Sandra Altman of Saddle Brook, her sister; Sharon Colca of Fair Lawn, and many aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews. Jill was recently predeceased by her father, Charles Altman, in January of this year.

Donations would be greatly appreciated to the GoFundMe account established for the benefit of Jill’s three children.