PORTLAND — Ciro A. Russo Jr., 81, passed away at Pine Point Nursing Home in Scarborough on Saturday, May 28, 2011, surrounded by his loving family.

He was born in Portland in 1930, the second of four sons of Ciro A. Russo Sr. and Josephine Russo. He grew up in Portland, attended Deering High School and graduated from Hebron Academy. He graduated from Tufts University in 1951 with a degree in Business. He was a longtime resident of both Portland and Pownal.

He was a partner with his brothers in Russo Realty of North Sebago, and Dirigo Distributors and A.F. Briggs Co. of Portland. He retired as president of the A.F. Briggs Co. in 1992.

Always promoting innovative technology in the business, A. F. Briggs Co. installed the first air conditioners in automobiles in Maine as well as the first ductless split-type computer room air conditioner in Maine. In the 1970s he sought, and won in court, the right for all Maine businesses to propose and furnish “for equal” products in contracting with and selling to the State of Maine.

Ciro was a past president of the Portland Chapter of the Refrigeration Service Engineers Society and a member of the Italian Heritage Center of Portland.

In addition to being a devoted and loving husband and father and caring for the family farm in Pownal, he enjoyed hunting, both locally and in Alaska, and was an avid photographer, carpenter, marksman, horseman, and gardener.

He is survived by his six children, Walter C. of Portland, Ciro A. III of Laguna Hills, Calif., Richard A. of South Portland, Bruce C. of Winthrop, Ellen M. Corbin of Manchester and Gregory C. of Sabattus; as well as eight grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; a brother, Gerard Russo of North Sebago; and numerous relatives in Southern Maine and Massachusetts. He was predeceased by his wife, Ellen, of 47 years in 1997, brother Mose in 2010 and brother Leonard in 2009.

Family and friends are invited to a time of visitation on Thursday, June 2, 2011, from 5 to 7 p.m., at the Lindquist Funeral Home, One Mayberry Lane, Yarmouth. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday at the funeral home. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Yarmouth. Please visit www.lindquistfuneralhome.com for additional information and to sign Ciro’s guestbook.