Captain William H. Russell, III, 69, of Sandwich, Massachusetts passed away on January 20, 2020, surrounded by family. Bill was born in Wareham on April 9, 1950 to William H. Russell, Jr. and Rita Lucille Lynch.
He is survived by his loving wife of 45 years, Karen (Zentz) Russell; his children, Matthew Russell, wife Allison of Sandwich, Brian Russell, wife Melissa of Sandwich, Andrew Russell, wife Katee of Plymouth, and Lindsay Russell of Boston; his siblings, Barbara Johnson, husband Barry of Monument Beach, Joan Osgood, husband Allen of Sandwich, and Peter Russell of Sandwich. Bill was a loving grandfather to Liam, Benjamin, Alexander, and Samuel Russell. He is also survived by many cousins and nieces and nephews.
After graduating from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1971 with a Bachelor of Science in Nautical Science and a commission in the United States Navy Reserve, Bill worked as a licensed Third Mate for a German Steamship Company. He went on to work for the Steamship Authority and as a surveyor for various engineering companies. In 1973, he began working for the U.S. Army Corp of Engineering in Jacksonville, Florida before moving back north to work for the Corp in Buzzards Bay. Bill was also an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy, teaching celestial navigation and costal piloting. In 1979, Bill started as a Second Mate at Great Lakes Dredge and Dock. He worked his way up to Chief Mate before attaining his Ocean Master's License in 1980, earning him the title of Master Mariner. Bill worked for Great Lakes for 33 years, retiring in 2012.
As a mariner, Bill travelled all over the world. He also visited many places with his wife Karen. In his later years, he took an interest in genealogy, travelling to County Kerry, Ireland to visit his ancestral home. Bill was a wonderful, caring man with a dry sense of humor and keen intellect. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 28 at Nickerson-Bourne Funeral Home in Sandwich, with visitation hours Monday, January 27, 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Memorial contributions can be made to the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation: www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org.
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