Russell Arthur DeRemer Jr.

Russ never wanted a funeral. He wasn't particularly fond of obituaries either. He made his opinions on both quite clear, so naturally, here we are writing an obituary about him. We suspect he would have a few things to say about that.

Russ was born on July 15, 1954. It was quickly apparent that he would live his life exactly how he wanted to live it. He spent his early years spelunking, playing football, skiing, and working in fine dining restaurants, where he developed a love of great food. This love evolved into a passion for cooking that he shared with friends and family whenever possible. Invitations to his table were always sought after and always offered.

When he wasn’t making or eating a great meal, he was planning his next great adventure. In the early days of his career, he was offered the opportunity to travel all over the world, and he took advantage of every trip. In his free time, he planned trips for his family and friends as often as he could. It seemed there wasn’t a city in the world where you couldn’t get a reliable restaurant or hotel recommendation from Russ. In 2025, Russ and Susan bought a house in Italy, right outside of Rome. They spent months at a time fixing up the house, buying art, enjoying the views, and enjoying each other’s company.

As much as Russ loved traveling the world, some of his favorite adventures were on the water. He had a captain’s resume a mile long and plenty of stories to go with it. From his first boat, Stormbird, to Vagabond, where his girls learned to navigate, tie knots, and raise sails, and where the tradition of “Pigs on the Bay” began, to his catamaran, Valmoa, Russ was happiest sailing the Chesapeake Bay or cruising the British Virgin Islands.

In 2004, Russ and his business partner founded Epiphany Healthcare. With the support of great friends and his wife, Susan, they built a successful company that made a lasting impact in the medical technology industry. Russ was proud of what they accomplished together, but Epiphany was always about more than business to him. He cared deeply about his employees and their families and took great pride in creating a company where people mattered.

Of all his many accomplishments, it was clear to anyone who knew Russ that he was most proud of his family. Susan, his three girls, and their families were the center of his world. When the girls were young, he was there for the swim meets, basketball games, and dance recitals. At Halloween, he went all out, making sure their house was the scariest on the block. As they got older, he helped mend broken hearts, taught them to stand on their own two feet, and carefully chose the songs he would dance to with each of them at their weddings. And when the grandchildren came along, he was just as involved, never missing an opportunity to be part of their lives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Bobby Lee and Russ Sr., and his son-in-law, Jason.

He leaves behind his wife, Susan; his daughters and their husbands, Kelly and Steven, Courtney and Hunter, and Chelsea and Nick; his sister, Lori, and brothers, Lee and Robert; and his five grandchildren, who brought him so much joy.

In the days surrounding Russ’s passing, we’ve heard the same two words again and again: “profound impact.” From family, friends, and colleagues, we’ve heard just how much he meant to so many people, often in ways we never knew. We already miss him terribly, but hearing these stories has meant so much to our family.

In keeping with Russ’s wishes, there will be no funeral and no formal service. Instead, we’re planning a party in November for friends and family to help us celebrate a man who gave us all plenty to talk about. Details to follow.