Pamela Stirba Russell

Pam Russell died peacefully in Salem, Oregon on May 20th, 2026. She was born in Queens, New York to Gloria Kearny Stirba and Alfred Stirba Jr. on December 15, 1943. Pam grew up in New Jersey in the towns of Saddle River and Mendham and graduated from The Gill School. While attending Chatham College in Pittsburgh, PA, Pam met her husband, William "Bill" Russell, at nearby Carnegie Mellon University where Bill’s fraternity was hosting a party. They were married for 61 years until Bill‘s death in 2025.

Bill and Pam enjoyed their life as a young couple, especially when Bill worked for Eastern Airlines which enabled them to travel to many countries in Europe as well as to Peru and Israel. Pam and Bill welcomed their two daughters in the late sixties and Pam loved being a mother. The family lived in Miami for several years and then relocated to suburban Philadelphia to be near extended family. There, Pam established meaningful friendships and participated in community theater, singing groups, and the local Charlestown Nature Center. When they became empty nesters, the couple returned to Florida in the winters to spend time at their condo on Hutchinson Island.

Pam and Bill moved to Salem, Oregon in 2012 to be close to their daughter Meredith, son-in-law John McDonald, and two grandchildren Claire and Isaac. Pam enjoyed many years of soccer games, dance recitals, and family holidays. In her later years, Pam was cared for beautifully by the Memory Care staff at Capital Manor and the staff at West Salem DaVita Dialysis Center.

Pam is survived by her daughter Jennifer Russell of Havertown, PA, daughter Meredith and son-in-law John McDonald of Salem, OR, and grandchildren Claire and Isaac McDonald. She is also survived by the "sibs”: Al and Lois Stirba, Claudia Stirba Mahon, and Peter Stirba. As the eldest of her generation in the Stirba family, she will be well remembered by all who knew and loved her.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Holocaust Museum in Washington DC.