Obituary of Kenneth RUSSELL

Russell, Kenneth Edwin Professor Emeritus of Chemistry Queen's University Dec. 9, 1924-April 10, 2016 Died at home at first light on Sunday, April 10 surrounded by the love of his family. Cherished husband of Esther (nee Fenton) for more than 60 years. Dear father of Celia, Judy (Rick Pim) and Andrew (Judith Kallick Russell). Much loved granddad of Peter Andersen, Joshua Kallick Russell and Sarah Kallick Russell. Mourned by his sister, Muriel Robey in England. Fondly remembered by many relatives in Britain and the U.S.A. Predeceased by his parents, Frederick and Alice Russell, and his brothers Harold and Aubrey. The family extends heartfelt thanks to Kendra Kearnan, CBI Home Health, and neighbours Dr. Mike Brundage and Dr. Matt Faris for their compassionate counsel and kindness during Ken's last hours. Born in Barnwell, Northamptonshire, England, Ken attended the Laxton School, Oundle. At 13, he attained the unusual distinction of gaining the School Certificate with credit in every subject. He graduated from University of Cambridge (M.A. Ph.D. '48), completing graduate research on the kinetics of the cationic polymerization of isobutylene under the supervision of R.G.W. Norrish, recipient of the 1967 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. After post-doctoral work at Pennsylvania State, Manchester and Princeton universities, Ken came to Queen's in 1954 as a lecturer in the Department of Chemistry. Esther, whom he met on a blind date while at Princeton, joined him in 1955. A senior at Douglass College, Rutgers University, Esther was chair of four Christmas dances taking place that evening. She needed a date with a car, and "Ken was the last man standing." Their long-distance love affair bloomed and they married Aug. 13, 1955 in Pompton Lakes, NJ in the eye of Hurricane Connie. In addition to his teaching and research career, Ken was a member of Queen's Senate and served on several of its committees. Other administrative posts included chair of the Arts and Science Faculty Board, acting department head and department chair of Graduate Studies. He, with colleagues in the Department of Chemistry and collaborators at DuPont Canada, were instrumental in bring the first high-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometer to Queen's in 1981 through an unprecedented university-industry collaboration. Retiring officially in 1990, his research publications in polymer science span 55 years, from 1947 to 2002. He was a mentor and friend to countless students, many of whom will remember Esther's fine cooking and tasty cookies. For more than 60 years, Ken Russell was a colleague, mentor and friend to faculty, staff and students in the Department of Chemistry. In 2014 to recognize his contributions, the department established the Russell Lectureship, featuring distinguished researchers in polymer chemistry and related areas of material science, as visiting speakers. Post-retirement, Ken and Esther travelled extensively throughout the U.S. and further afield to several destinations including Britain, Raratonga, New Zealand, Hawaii, Belize and Cyprus. Ken had a lifelong love of the arts, particularly music. He and Esther encouraged their children in these pursuits. As member and chair of the University Concerts Committee in the late 1950s, Ken helped bring celebrated pianist Glenn Gould to perform at Queen's. With Esther and later his daughter Celia, Ken was a regular attendee at Performing Arts Series concerts. He was thrilled to be present at the opening of the Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts in 2014. Ken was an exceptional husband, dad and granddad, quick to praise and slow to anger. His children's friends were considered as extended family, and the Russell household was host to countless barbecues on the deck and family celebrations. Trips to parks, the lab on Saturdays, the Agnes on Sundays, football games, tobogganing at Queen's Hill, swimming at Grippen Lake and the Heydings' cottage bring back special memories. A celebration of his life will be held at the University Club at Queen's, 168 Stuart St. on Saturday, April 16, from noon to 2:30 pm with remarks at 1 pm. Donations to the Russell Lectureship would be appreciated by his family, as would acts of kindness, in memory of Ken's warm and generous spirit. You can make a gift in memory of Ken to the Russell Lectureship by going to: https://www.givetoqueens.ca/give/index.php/project/project/action/view/project/65/navigation/274/ or you may send a cheque payable to Queen s University and in the memo line add: In Memory of Dr Kenneth Russell to Queen s University, attn: Lisa Riley, Office of Advancement, Kingston, ON K7L 3N6.