By LESLIE COLLINS
Northeast News
January  23, 2013

To celebrate 60 years of serving Historic Northeast and the Kansas City metro area, the Kansas City City Council honored Ross Cascio with a resolution Feb. 10.

“It’s a real privilege to be honored by the city and be recognized by great people and a great newspaper,” Cascio, 83, told Northeast News.

Cascio opened Victor Ross & Co. real estate in 1952 in Historic Northeast and offered residential and commercial real estate services and insurance. Cascio’s wife, Clarene, served as comptroller and Cascio’s son Victor joined the company in 1971.

“Ross adopted his trademark of a white necktie that signified a personal touch the company dubbed ‘white tie service,’ signifying the company’s commitment to personal service in which every deal is good for both the buyer and the seller,” the resolution stated.

Mayor Pro Tem Cindy Circo said Cascio always had faith in Northeast and contributed to the community in a number of ways.

City Council member Jim Glover also commended Cascio’s “superb” contributions to the city.

On Nov. 15, 2012, Victor Ross & Co. merged with Zimmer Real Estate, ending a chapter in Northeast. Victor Cascio will now serve as vice president of sales. Cascio and Clarene, however, will now officially retire.

Cascio said he still owns property in Northeast, including the building on Elmwood that formerly housed the Northeast News.

“There is no other neighborhood like Northeast,” he said, recalling the times he and his family would sit on the front porch, have a drink and “shoot the breeze” with neighbors.

“There were many good times there,” Clarene said.

Asked what he plans to do in retirement, Cascio said he’s looking forward to finally having time to go to lunch with his wife, friends and family.