Philip "Phil" Linkis Russ

Phil grew up in Berwyn, Illinois and spent his early adult life there and in Chicago. He graduated from Morton East High School (Class of 1966) and the University of Chicago (Class of 1970). He also attended the University of Iowa for graduate studies. Phil eventually moved to Washington, DC, where he lived the majority of his adult life. There, he married, and he and his wife raised their daughter.

Phil had a lengthy career at the Government Services Administration (GSA) working on some of the first computer systems. As one of the members of the last generation of computer experts who did not have IT degrees, Phil developed his computer skills based on curiosity, broad knowledge, books, and discussions with co-workers. He managed many different computer systems as programing and computers changed throughout the years. The project, for which Phil was most proud, was being a member of the small team that designed the first online ordering system for GSA. That online ordering system predated Amazon’s ordering system, and Amazon once visited GSA for discussions with the GSA development team. Phil loved to bring his daughter in on take-your-daughter-to-work day and show her the server rooms.

Phil had a life-long passion for books and music, collecting many books over his lifetime. He always carried a book or two with him wherever he went. He generally read between two to five different books at the same time, switching between them when the mood suited him. The family loved to spend time reading aloud together. He was also happy to just sit in the same room as his family, nearby reading a book. He especially appreciated poetry and enjoyed sharing a poem for every occasion.

Phil’s love of music was fostered early on listening to the radio and LP records. All types of music ranging from classical, jazz, and rock-and-roll appealed to him. He learned to play the drums and played in the Royal Airs drum and bugle corps, in a rock band in high school, and continued playing percussion through college in an orchestra. At U of C, he studied music theory. After his daughter was born, he enrolled her in the parent-child classes at Levine Music and accompanied her to music school on Saturdays starting when she was a year old. He also sang to his family and danced around the room when the right song came on.

Phil was a night-owl who sat alone and listened to music or read late into the night, but he appreciated the everyday pleasures of life as well, such as spending time with family and friends, savoring a delicious meal, and questioning everything. He loved to debate the topics of the day and was always ready to discuss philosophy. Pizza, pasta, and Lithuanian food were his favorites. He chose quantity over quality in food and believed in piling it on his plate. He had a gin and tonic outside each year to welcome warm weather and believed that the best beer was Pilsner Urquell. Phil was a city boy but learned to like being outside in nature, sitting on the porch of the family’s cabin, taking hikes in the mountains, or walking through Rock Creek Park before work. Phil will be remembered as a man who loved being in the presence of his family, was always ready to drive somewhere, considered grocery-store shopping entertainment, and could never pass up walking through a bookstore.

Survivors include his wife Linda Murphy, his daughter Victoria Murphy, his son-in-law Kevin Radcliffe, and many old and close friends. He will be greatly missed, and there will always be a hole where he once was. Because of the long-term nature of his illness, Phil had time to reflect and say goodbye to those he loved. His message to those who would miss him was: “Please don’t worry about me. I’ll be with Walt in the grass.”

The Funeral Mass will be held at 10 AM on May 9, 2026, at St Joseph’s on Capitol Hill. The family asks that donations be made in memory of Phil to the ALS Association in lieu of flowers.