Joseph Russo was born in Belgrade, Serbia, in 1896, one of nine children in a large family. He began studying music at an early age and continued to play the violin throughout his life. Later, he left Serbia to study medicine in Lyon, France, where he married a French woman and became a French citizen. After completing his studies, he worked as a certified surgeon—all the while keeping up his music.
When World War II broke out and France was occupied by Germany, Joseph was forbidden to practice medicine. His surgical tools were confiscated, but he managed to escape to the free zone in the south of France, carrying his violin with him.
Joseph and his wife survived the war and later settled in Biarritz. There, he was permitted only to practice dentistry. When he tried to trace his family back in Serbia, he discovered that all of them had been murdered by the Nazis.
After this devastating loss, Joseph could no longer bring himself to play. His violin remained untouched for the rest of his life. Joseph passed away in 1974 at the age of 78. His violin was left as a legacy to his son and daughter-in-law, Rosaline. Rosaline Russo-Lugato later entrusted the instrument to Violins of Hope, ensuring that the memory of the Russo family will live on through its music.
