Russell Steven Fojtasek

Russell Steven Fojtasek passed away unexpectedly while traveling with his family in Italy. He was 60 years old. Russell was born in San Antonio, Texas, on September 29, 1961. Three years later his family moved to Dallas, which would remain his home for the rest of his life. He was a graduate of St. Mark’s School of Texas and went on to attend Franklin College in Lugano, Switzerland, and SMU.

He was a devoted family man and a single parent to his daughter Caitlin for 15 years before meeting the love of his life, Michelle Marlow Fojtasek. They were married for 18 years and had one son, Gage.

Russell had a lifelong love for the outdoors. Colorado was his home away from home. Nothing put a bigger smile on his face than skiing in knee-deep powder in the back bowls of Vail. Summers in the mountains were filled with golf, rafting and fly fishing. He loved taking road trips on one of his motorcycles and his favorite destination was the annual Sturgis rally in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Back at home, he could be found most Sunday mornings on his road bike cycling around White Rock Lake. He found his greatest sanctuary at the family ranch, where he would spend hours hunting, caring for the land or just sitting in a blind taking in the view.

He loved sports, especially football and soccer. In recent years, he had become an avid water polo fan and one of his greatest joys was watching his son play the game.

Russell was a gentle soul who lived his life with uncommon humility. He never took anything or anyone for granted and this was reflected in the way he treated those around him. He was regarded as kind and thoughtful by all who met him. His family will miss his devilish sense of humor, which really came to life in his storytelling at family gatherings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Jacqueline and Joe Fojtasek, and stepbrother Norman Fojtasek. He is survived by his wife, Michelle Fojtasek; daughter Caitlin Noble and her husband Greg; son Gage Fojtasek; brother Randall Fojtasek and his wife Ola; half-sister Roxanne Smith and her husband, Chris; stepbrothers Richard Fojtasek and Jo Ed Fojtasek and his wife Yvonne; nephews Ananda Fojtasek, Eric Fojtasek, Kevin Fojtasek, Michael Fojtasek his wife Anna Margaret Hollyman, Joe Fojtasek, Jack Fojtasek, Randall Fojtasek, Jr., and niece Hillary Fojtasek; grandson Frank Noble; grandniece Maie Fojtasek and grandnephew Burnes Fojtasek.

Services for Russell will be held at 10:00 AM on Sunday, July 10, at Sparkman/Hillcrest Funeral Home, 7405 W. Northwest Hwy., Dallas, TX, 75225. A private interment will follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to St. Mark’s School of Texas in memory of Russell Fojtasek, ’80.