Norwich, VT - Robert Blake Russell, Jr. 83, died peacefully at home in his Valley Terrace apartment on October 21, 2010. His wife of 57 years, Lois was by his side.

Bob was born in New Haven, CT on September 11, 1927, the first son of Robert Blake Russell and Helen (Ferguson) Russell. He attended Westminster School in Simsbury, Conn. from 1939 -1945 and entered Yale in 1945 as a member of Calhoun College. He served in the US Army from '45 – '46 and returned to Yale, graduating in 1950 with a B.S. in Industrial Administration and Engineering. After traveling on a motorcycle through Europe, he returned home and was married to Lois W. Russell, of Cheshire, CT at St. Peter's Church on September 19, 1953.

The Russell's lived in Conn. where Bob worked for Connecticut Light and Power Co. (now Northeast Utilities) as an Industrial Sales Engineer from 1951 - 1988. After raising their family in Somers, Conn., the couple moved to Castine, Maine in 1994. In 2004 they came to Norwich, VT. They were both active in the town and church life of their communities, including Columbia Congregational Church, Somers Congregational Church and the Trinitarian Church in Castine, ME. Bob taught Sunday School, served as trustee, chaired many committees, and sang with Lois in the choir.

Bob enthusiastically applied his leadership and engineering skills to projects that served those of his family and community and he gave generously to his alma maters, church and family. Known by his grandchildren endearingly as "Daddy Grand-Bob" and by his classmates as "Rusty", he was described to his colleagues at CL&P in this way: "When (Bob) tells a client he is interested in his problems, he means it and proves it – has helped everyone from the president of a manufacturing concern decide on plant expansion to a plant electrician connect a motor." (CL&P Spotlight, Oct. 1961. p 4).

Bob was a life-long athlete and adventurer with an appreciation for music and art and a love of family life, people and nature, especially the trees and sky. In school he participated in team sports as well as polo, squash and skiing. He worked as a wrangler out west and sailed with his family in the summers of his college years, got his pilot's license at age 16 which he held until retirement, and played weekly tennis indoors and out for 30 years. Photography, radio repair, auto repair, sailing and reading were amongst his other hobbies. He was well-known for his humor, love of quotations and Shakespeare. If someone said something to him he didn't understand, he would reply with "Well I had one too, but the wheels fell off". He loved his wife, family and God.

Bob is survived by his wife Lois, son Raymond Russell of Cheshire, CT and daughter Robin Russell of Vermont, three grandchildren; Christopher Schoelen, Jennifer Schoelen and Blake Russell, a brother Win Russell of Maine, and five nieces. He is predeceased by a brother, Warren Russell.

A Celebration of Life was hosted at Valley Terrace, Norwich, VT on Monday, October 25, 2010 where family and friends shared memories of the life and person of Bob Russell. The Russell family is very grateful for the loving and skilled care which enhanced the quality of life he enjoyed while residing at Valley Terrace. An elm tree will be planted in his honor.