William Lee Russell

William "Bill" Lee Russell passed away on June 12, 2025 in Salem, Oregon. Bill was born to Myron Rosenberg (later changed to "Russell" ) and Leonore (nee Freidman) Rosenberg in New York, New York, in 1940. He was a proud graduate of Ethical Culture and Fieldston School in New York City. He went on to be the first in his immediate family to graduate from college, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Chemical Engineering and a Master's Degree in Business Administration from Carnegie Mellon University. He fondly remembered his college days as among the best years of his life, during which he was a active member his fraternity, SAE, and where he met and married his wife Pamela Stirba in 1964.

After living for several years in Miami, Florida while Bill was working for Eastern Airlines, Bill and Pam relocated their young family to Charlestown, Pennsylvania, just outside of Philadelphia, in 1976. During his working years, Bill was a national executive for Amerigas. In his free time he played tennis, socialized with friends, and tended to his fruit orchards. He was instrumental in the building of a physical home for Temple Brith Achim on S. Gulph Road in King of Prussia. In retirement, Bill fine-tuned his golf game at Phoenixville Country Club and volunteered at Community Volunteers in Medicine in West Chester, PA. For years, Pam and Bill spent winters at their condo on Hutchinson Island, Florida before they relocated to Oregon in 2012. In his final years, Bill lived at Capital Manor in Salem, Oregon where he could be closer to his grandchildren and enjoyed many years of soccer games, dance recitals, and family activities.

Bill is survived by his wife Pam, daughter Jennifer Russell of Havertown, PA, daughter Meredith Russell and her husband John McDonald of Salem, OR and his grandchildren Claire McDonald and Isaac McDonald. He is also survived by the "sibs:" Al and Lois Stirba, Claudia Stirba Mahon, and Peter Stirba. Bill will be deeply missed and will continue to inspire those that knew him.

Memorial donations can be made to Temple Beth Sholom: 1274 Cunningham Ln. S.Salem, OR 97302