John W. Russell ’64
John W. Russell ’64 of Naperville, Illinois, died peacefully on August 4, 2020. John came to Dartmouth from Audubon (New Jersey) High School. He sang in the Glee Club for a year and participated in WDCR for two. He joined Tau Epsilon Phi, where he served as treasurer. John majored in mathematics and in 1966 earned his master’s in computer sciences at Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey. He then began a lifelong career in telecommunications at Bell Labs. John took great pleasure in helping his coworkers in imaginative ways and, as a result, became revered as “Mr. Wizard.” Memories shared by his coworkers tell of long lines outside his office waiting to ask his advice on technical designs or problems. In his community John was an active member of St. John United Church of Christ Naperville, serving as head of the spiritual life committee. He loved and cared for numerous animals throughout his life and enjoyed sports and puzzles of all kinds. John is survived by his wife of 26 years, Sherri; daughter Brandi and her husband, Mike; son Aaron and his wife, Alaxis; and three grandchildren who adored their gentle Pop-Pop. John was a kind and gentle man who loved his family, friends, and church. John is missed by all those who knew him.
