GEORGE RUSSELL, JR.

Born: May 20, 1939
Died: August 11, 2013

George Russell was born in New York City and prepared for Yale at the Cranbrook School in Bloomfield Hills. MI. After entering Yale with the class of '61 he spent the academic year 1958-1959 at Michigan State, returning to Yale and graduating with our class. He lived in Berkeley and majored in history. At Yale he was active in the Berkeley Players, the Race Committee and the Yale Corinthian Yacht Club. In 1964 he got an MBA at the University of Michigan.

His first job was in the Special Development Program at the Chase Manhattan Bank. After 17 years at the International Paper Company finishing as General Manager of Land and Timber, he founded and ran The Private Office, an executive business center in Rye Brook. He was active in local politics as a member of both the Westchester County Association, and the Government Action Committee of the Business Council of Westchester.

He volunteered at Mystic Seaport and served as president of the Seaport's Pilot Steering Committee, and as a member of the Seaport's National Council of Advisors. He was a member of the American Yacht Club for over 40 years, serving as trustee and on the club's race committee for which he was twice awarded the Mallory Cub for Race Committee Service.

As a thirty-six year member of the Rye Presbyterian Church, he served as a deacon and two terms both as elder and president of the board of trustees. In addition he ser4ved on two pastor nominating committees, as the financial manager, chairman of the building committee and as co-chairman of a capital campaign. He took an active role in the Hudson River Presbytery, both as elder and trustee.

He loved Nantucket, sailing, classical music and woodworking. Often weekends would find him cruising around Westchester on his motorcycle. He was an omnivorous reader of history. He loved anything technical or mechanical and could fix anything. One of his favorite quotes was "The giving hand is never empty."

Three comments from his memorial service:

Reverend Daniel Love, pastor at Rye Presbyterian Church: "George was always willing and eager - ready to serve - ready to help make this a better place. Faithful, willing, passionate, attentive to detail, and with a spirit not to be deterred. With George, things got done...and done right."

Reverend Eric Springstead (interim Senior Pastor, 2013):

"There are those who do not live for applause. They are, for example, people who have found that having an inner life is more important than having outward success....These are people who give of themselves. They don't give what is left over ... George was a great example of faith like this."

Bill Venable, longtime friend:

"George left the world a better place than he found it. He often looked for the best in others, and gave the best he had. His life should be an inspiration and an example of what a dedication to life really means. His memory was prodigious. He could recall every thought or idea expressed over the years, particularly with regard to religion, politics or history, a subject that held him in thrall. He demanded too much of himself; he was disciplined and a man of principle. He became almost self-sufficient in his command of everyday human skills and tasks. He was the master builder, the technician as well as the laborer. Few worked harder in personal and professional endeavors."

At Yale George was known as Rusty. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Robin Duke Harris Russell, sons David and Christopher, daughter Lindsey and six grandchildren, and his sister, Mary-Love Russell Harman.