Russell was born in Buffalo, NY in 1945 to the late Carmelo and late Concetta, and was the oldest of four brothers to the late Carmelo and the late Joseph (Tracey), and is survived by Vincent (Ellen) and by many nieces, nephews, friends and extended family members.
Russell grew up on the West side of Buffalo. He served in the U. S. Navy and was drafted to serve a year in Vietnam during the war, where he earned a Purple Heart. He was married to Marsha in 1970 and spent the first two years of their marriage in Morocco, Africa, while continuing to serve in the Navy. He then attended and graduated from the University of Buffalo Law School and practiced law for 41 years in Buffalo. He and Marsha raised two children, Russell, Jr. and Kim, before moving to NC in 2013, and spent almost eleven years closer to family during his retirement.
Russell was a lifelong Buffalo Bills and Sabres fan, and in recent years became quite the Carolina Hurricanes fan. He was an avid golfer, and as of several years ago was golfing in some form as many as five days a week in nice weather. He was even lucky to have not one, but two Holes In One (on the same hole), a couple years apart.
A Liturgy of the Word will be held on Friday, May 3, 2024 at 2:30pm in the Chapel of Mitchell Funeral Home.
Burial with Military Honors will follow in Raleigh Memorial Park. The service will be livestreamed, to join, please use the link below inside the services box.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Vietnam Veterans of America or to the Wounded Warrior Project, by using the links below, under 'Donations'.
If you would like to leave a favorite memory / story of Russell or a message of condolence to his family, you may do so below within "Add a Memory".
