LACONIA ---- Russell Thibeault, 78, of Laconia, passed away peacefully, encircled by his family, on Friday, May 23, 2025.
Born on December 18, 1946, and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, Russ was the son of Alice and Alfred Thibeault, hardworking shoe factory employees in their late 40s.
By age 10, Russ had a paper route and used his earnings to buy his first clarinet. By 14, he was playing proms and jazz gigs with his band, The Russ Tebo Orchestra. Music again became his ticket to success when he earned a Frederick Smyth Scholarship to the University of New Hampshire (UNH). While at UNH, he became engaged to his future wife, Patricia, and began to question the practicality of a musician's life. In characteristic fashion, he pivoted decisively and chose to study economics. He was accepted to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received a grant from the National Science Foundation to support his studies. He graduated first in his class and developed a lifelong affection for Chapel Hill and the Tar Heels. Following graduation, Russ began his career at Hammer Siler George Associates in Washington, D.C., but he and Patty missed New Hampshire deeply. When Russ couldn’t find an economics firm in rural NH, he took the bold step of founding his own: Applied Economic Research (AER).
Among his proudest accomplishments was raising his four sons. Though he found the chaos of parenting overwhelming at times, he formed unique bonds with each child through shared experiences.
He toured the state with his son Matt in a nine-piece rhythm and blues band, The Rusty Rockstar Roadshow, with Russ on saxophone and Matt on bass. Despite insisting he was a bad-luck fisherman, he continued tying his own flies and reeling in epic salmon on Lake Winnipesaukee with his son Marc. Russ often said, “The luckiest fishing spot is right next to Marc.”
Later in life, Russ took up watercolor painting. He taught himself to draw and paint, believing that “good art should challenge you!” He told his son Paul, “You put the paint down and just improvise and flow.” His home became a gallery of his award-winning oil and watercolor paintings, many of which earned blue ribbons.
His son Dan remembers Russ watching Red Sox and Patriots games, enjoying time near and on the ocean, and dominating every round of Jeopardy! For Dan and many others, nearly every corner of life brings a beautiful memory of Russ—whether golfing, sailing, performing, or painting.
Russ contributed deeply to both his profession and his community. He co-authored the President’s Report on Growth and Development under President Gerald Ford. Through AER, he worked in all 50 states and appeared on BBC, Japanese Public Television, ABC World News, Nightline, PBS NewsHour, and regularly on NPR and WMUR.
He was a life member and past Commodore of the Winnipesaukee Yacht Club, served on the Board of Directors for the Bank of New Hampshire, was a past President of the Lakes Region Mental Health Foundation, and a board member of the Genesis Mental Health Center. In the late 1990s, he volunteered teaching English to business majors at Duy Tan University in Da Nang, Vietnam.
Russ is survived by his beloved wife and life partner, Patricia; and his sons and their families: Matthew and his wife Amy (Rueffert) Thibeault and their son Elliot of Hong Kong; Daniel and his fiancée Janice Williams and their son Jackson of White River Junction, Vermont; Marc and his wife Jovanne (Buckmire) of Framingham, Massachusetts and their children Micaela and Maddox; and Paul and his wife Sharon (Wangari) of Beverly, Massachusetts and their children Bridgette, Simone and Maxwell.
He also leaves behind his honorary sister Joanna Snow, the “brothers and sister of the heart” in the Soha clan, and many beloved nieces and nephews.
Calling Hours will be held on Thursday, July 10, 2025, from 4:00pm-6:00pm, in the Carriage House at Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home, 164 Pleasant Street, Laconia, NH 03246.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, July 11, 2025, at 10:00am, at St. Andre Bessette Parish at Sacred Heart Church, 291 Union Avenue, Laconia, NH 03246.
Wilkinson-Beane-Simoneau-Paquette Funeral Home & Cremation Services/603Cremations.com, Laconia, NH, is assisting the family with arrangements. For more information and to view an online memorial, please visit wilkinsonbeane.com.