Lee Thomas Russell, 70, of Dartmouth, died Monday August 29, 2005 at home after a nine year battle with Alzheimer's Disease. He was the husband of Cecilia M. (Pacheco) Russell; they were married on October 13, 1958.
Born in South Paris, Maine on May 21, 1935, he was the son of Phemie Jane (Ross) Russell of Norway, Maine, and the late A. Llewyllen Russell. He had lived in Dartmouth for most of his life and was a communicant of St. Julie Billiart Church.
A graduate of South Paris High School, he had attended Boston University prior to enlisting in the U.S. Air Force. While in the Air Force, he was stationed at Otis Air Force Base on Cape Cod, where he was a member of the 333rd Field Maintenance Squadron.
Lee received an Associate's in Science degree from Bristol Community College and a Bachelor's degree in Aviation Management from Bridgewater State College.
Mr. Russell had more than 35 years experience in aviation mechanics. He was a flight engineer on Navy R-50 #50874 domestic and international flights for the Woods Hole Oceanographic research flight facility and was employed as an aircraft and power plant mechanic at Mass Air and Newport Aero. He had been president of Southeast Air, Inc., in New Bedford and also served as their Director of Maintenance.
In 1980, he joined the faculty of Wentworth Institute as an associate professor in the College of Aeronautics. He was also the aviation coordinator at Ocean County Career and Technical Institution in Lakewood, New Jersey, and returned to Wentworth Institute-East Coast Aero Tech as an instructor until his retirement in 1995.
Mr. Russell was a member of the Professional Aircraft Mechanics Association.
Lee's happiest moments were spending time with his family which always came first. Then came his fixed winged aircraft, skiing, sailing, partying and his miniature greyhound "Grey". He was a Dartmouth Little League coach in the 1970s for both baseball and basketball, and was a very active member of the Dartmouth Music Association from 1974-1978.
Survivors include his wife; his mother; a daughter, Lori Ann Russell-Pelsue, and her husband Mark Stephen Pelsue, of Dartmouth; two grandsons, Thayer Joseph Russell-Pelsue and Taber Armstrong Russell-Pelsue, both of Dartmouth; his godchild ,Stacey Marie Lamontagne Martin of Dartmouth; as well as many good friends.
His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Monday, September 5, 2005 at 5 PM. in St. Julie Billiart Church, 494 Slocum Rd., Dartmouth. Visiting hours are omitted. In lieu of flowers, remembrances may be made to the Community Boating Center of New Bedford, 1641 Padanaram Avenue, New Bedford, MA 02740.