Remembering Robert Russell
Robert Russell died this past Sunday, while visiting his sister in New York.
Robert and I met at my very first CGS Democrats meeting in January 2006. I noticed him immediately because he took pictures and audio recordings of the meeting - and because he said he was a reformed Republican!
I worked closely with Robert for years. When I was the president of the Colleyville, Grapevine, Southlake Democrats, he was my secretary. I always got a kick out of his meeting notes, sometimes seven pages long. He got everything. I told him several times that I laughed over his minutes and he said he wasn’t trying to be funny, but he was happy I was amused. He was meticulous with notes, maps and photographs.
Robert was the ever present photographer. He photographed some of my favorite photos with Jeremy and friends at Mid-Cities Democrats, Colleyville, Grapevine, Southlake Democrats and Drinking Liberally events, and of course documented so much of our organizations over the years. My favorite has to be of Owen, taking a break from pulling up Gary Page for Congress signs, pulling around a little mother duck and her waddling ducklings toy. Robert printed it out for me and captioned it “Owen, the Littlest Campaign Worker”. It’s hung in our house since.
Beyond photography and politics, Robert was passionate about wine too. He was the only person I have ever known to carry around a personalized corkscrew, a portable wine bottle thermometer or have the word “GRAPES” as a vanity plate. That’s dedication, folks! At parties and fundraisers, Robert used to tell me, “I knew you’d be here tonight, so I brought this bottle of ____,” whatever it was, it was always a red. He knew what I liked.
Jeremy was so impressed with Robert’s party gifts at a function in our home way back when, that he started looking for the right cheeses to go with our after-dinner wines. I wasn’t the biggest fan, but Jeremy makes a special effort to do what Robert did. When Robert’s cancer took a turn for the worse, he and Judith brought us a case of their own wines that was so big, I couldn’t carry it in. We toasted to Robert and enjoyed every bottle.
Robert was on my side. When I hit professional and personal bumps in the road, he was there with encouragement. He was smart and clever and always reassuring. Phone calls and e-mails told me to not let certain events spoil my day and that he supported me 100%. Robert was kind and gentle and teased me only once - about my voice - with a pitch so high people still ask for my mother when I answer the phone.
I last saw Robert at a MCD meeting in March. We missed his presence recently, but knew he was having more bad days than good. When I got the call about Al Polsky I got an immediate sinking feeling about Robert. I told some friends and late Thursday night got an e-mail from Brad saying his e-mail from that day had been returned, saying Robert had passed. It was near midnight so I could not call, but I called Robert and got VM Friday morning. It was good to hear his voice. Judith called back immediately and said Robert had died. I told her how sorry I was on behalf of our MCD family and that we would all want to know about memorial information.
I just loved Robert Russell and to write that he will be missed doesn’t come close to expressing the loss.
Robert’s funeral was held Friday in New York. His memorial service in Texas will be held at a later date.
Robert is pictured in our home for a holiday social, photographing a “100 for $100” party and with the first CGS Democrats officers.
