Richard J. Russell

DRACUT- Richard J. Russell, 81, a longtime resident of Dracut, died peacefully at his home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday May 27, 2015. He was the adoring husband of Kathleen C. (Hodgson) Russell of Dracut with whom he would have celebrated 60 years of marriage on July 2, 2015.

Born in Chicago on April 2, 1934, he was a son of the late Frank and Ellen (Cassidy) Russell.

Rich was educated at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, graduating in 1952. He attended Lowell Technological Institute and in 1961 earned an Associates of Science degree in Electronic Engineering. In 1971, he earned a Bachelor's of Science degree in Industrial Science with a major concentration in Electrical Technology from Fitchburg State College. He later went on to earn a Master's Degree in Science Education, also from Fitchburg State College.

Rich served in the United States Army from 1953 to 1956, stationed at Fort Devens, Ayer, MA.

Rich worked as a Senior Engineer for Raytheon of Andover for 40 years until his retirement in 1993.

Rich was a tennis player at heart. He started a Trull Brook tennis club and played in it for 37 years. His love of math and science remained a lifelong hobby and interest. He was an avid reader and an active member of The Friends of the Dracut Public Library. He was also a wonderful dancer who enjoyed dancing to big band music. Rich enjoyed traveling in the United States and abroad.

In addition to his wife Kathleen, Rich is survived by his children, Richard J. Russell II and his wife Katherine (Cakounes) Russell of Nashua, NH, Patricia Russell of Dracut, Kayellen (Russell) Bradley and her husband Timothy Bradley of Irvine, CA, and Rosemary Russell of Nashua, NH; his grandchildren, Candace Russell, James Russell, Daniel Burk, Ryan Bradley, Emily Whitmore and Katelyn Whitmore; cousins, Marcia Kelleher, John Doody, and Mary Ellen Riff, a sister-in-law, Wilma Hodgson of CO; several nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends including Don and Mariann Petritis of Chicago. He was predeceased by his brother William P. Russell, his mother-in-law and father-in-law Catherine and James A Hodgson, Sr., his brothers-in-law James A. Hodgson, Jr. and John M. Hodgson, and his granddaughter, Katherine M. Whitmore.