Terry was born on September 26, 1944, to Arnise Russell and Louise Kowkabany Russell in Jacksonville, Florida. He attended Bishop Kenney High School where he met the love of his life, Mary Kay. They began dating when they attended St. Leo College and were married in 1966. He entered the charter class of Florida State University College of Law where he became the Chief Justice for the student government’s supreme court. He graduated in December 1968 and began clerking for United States District Judge William O. Mehrtens. In 1969, he began a long career as a complex commercial litigator, representing numerous corporations, banks, and educational institutions--including Nova Southeastern University, which he successfully represented in complicated trust litigation that began in the 1970’s, and continued for many years, determining the university’s future. He was a skilled trial lawyer, and in 1983, was among the first group of lawyers to be certified by The Florida Bar as a civil trial law specialist. He later achieved “double board certification” when he added business litigation to his practice areas of expertise. Always passionate about leadership in the legal profession, he served as the president of the Broward Bar Association, as a member of the Florida Bar’s Board of Governors, a member of The Florida Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission, and as president of both The Florida Bar and the Florida Bar Foundation. He served on the Board of Directors for Legal Aid Services of Broward County, whose lawyers he counted amongst his most valued friends and colleagues. The Florida Bar Foundation awarded him its Medal of Honor Award in 2008 for his dedication to legal services for the poor.
His hobbies and interests were many. He built and flew model airplanes, winning numerous trophies at competitions. He loved his Golden Retrievers whom he named Harley, Dulcey, and most recently Micah. An experienced mechanic since his teenage years where he gained experience working at his father’s gas station, he could repair nearly anything. He played offensive line at Bishop Kenney. When a premature knee injury cut short his football career, he kept up with his love of the sport, becoming a diehard fan of the Miami Dolphins and Florida State Seminoles. He was a lover of mountain vistas, an enthusiastic driver of ambitious family road trips, a connoisseur of the best BBQ and cheesesteaks, a precise launcher of fireworks, a taker of amateur nature photos, a grower of roses and fruit trees, a reader of science fiction since his youth, and an enthusiastic giver of Christmas gifts. He was a student of history, especially World War II, and devoured historical works. Above all he was a teacher and tender-hearted protector of his wife, children and grandchildren. And per his grandchildren he was a great giver of big hugs. His great passion was for his family: for his wife, who was his sweetheart and “buddypal,” his children, and his four grandchildren. They would note that regardless of the situation or circumstances, he always just seemed to know what to say and what to do. He was courageous, and he remained full of hope, wanting as much out of life as was offered to him and fought his disease valiantly. He was a long-time parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton in Coral Springs, and more recently St. Joseph Catholic Church in Jacksonville. For many years and especially during his illness he recited a nightly rosary with Mary Kay. His puppy Micah, a 2021 Christmas gift from Mary Kay, was named as a reminder of his favorite verse in the Bible, which he once read during a closing statement to a jury: “. . . and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
He is survived by his wife, Mary Kay, his daughter, Cristy, his son, Greg and daughter-in-law Mary Catherine, and his brother, Larry and sister-in-law, Michele. He is also survived by his grandchildren Greg Jr., age 15, Catherine, age 14, Joseph, age 10, and Elizabeth, age 8. He was predeceased by his father, Arnise, his mother, Louise, and his sons Terry Jr., Robert Andrew, and Donald James.
A visitation for Terrence will be held Sunday, March 5, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Hardage-Giddens Funeral Home, 11801 San Jose Blvd, Jacksonville, FL 32223. A rosary service will occur at 6:00 PM,
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Monday, March 6, 2023 at 10:00 AM in St Joseph's Catholic Church, 11757 Old St Augustine Road, Jacksonville, FL 32258.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.hgmandarin.com for the Russell family.
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