ANTHONY ALEXANDER RUSSELL

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ANTHONY ALEXANDER RUSSELL 1942 - 2017 Tony Russell died peacefully in his sleep on January 11, 2017 in Tuxedo Villa in Winnipeg after a brave battle with Parkinson's Disease. He was predeceased by his beloved wife Susan in 2012, and is survived by his daughter Carolyn, son Peter, grandson Fredrick Russell, and brother Jim Russell. Tony was born May 25, 1942 in Montreal, the second son of Keith (d. 1960) and Elma Russell (Crockett, d. 1993). The family moved to Quebec City in 1944, when Tony was very young, when Keith took up a senior position with The Anglo Canadian Pulp and Paper Group. As a result he became fluent in French, including Quebecois vernacular, something that was a real advantage to him later. Tony attended St. Georges School and Quebec High School in Quebec City and he spent many happy summers at Powter's Camp for Boys in St. Donat de Montcalm, Quebec. Tony followed the Crockett family connection to Acadia University and completed high school at Horton Academy in Wolfville, Nova Scotia in 1958. He then stayed on the Acadia campus, being awarded BSc (1962) and MSc (1964) degrees in chemistry. While at Acadia he also earned a Varsity Letter as a member of the Axemen football team. Later, Tony was awarded an MBA from the University of Toronto (1968), where he specialized in marketing. Following his studies at Acadia, Tony worked in Montreal on radiopharmaceuticals, as a research chemist with MerckFrosst Canada. He left Merck for the University of Toronto for business studies and upon graduating was employed in marketing operations in Montreal by Allied Chemical Corporation and BASF (as Product Manager). Tony married Susan Louise Marjorie Lowes in 1970 at Trinity College in Toronto. They settled in Montreal where their daughter Carolyn was born (1974). In 1975 the family moved to Winnipeg where Tony began working for Reliance Products Ltd. as Director of Sales and Marketing. Tony and Susan's son Peter was born in Winnipeg in 1976. At Reliance, Tony developed his passion for sales selling plastic packaging, blow moulded containers and camping equipment across Western Canada. By the mid-1980' Tony was Vice-President Sales and Marketing with Reliance. He started Russell Sales and Marketing in 1989, where he continued his sales career as an independent consultant. Tony held various contracts including sales for Melet Plastics Inc. where he sold canes and mobility products for the blind. Tony enjoyed a variety of sports from football, track and downhill skiing, through which he met Susan. Later, family ski trips and playing squash singles and doubles at the Winnipeg Winter Club became a focus, along with time at home with family and friends. He was a loving and caring father to Carolyn and Peter, and devoted husband to Susan. Tony had a passion for business and managing his investment portfolio. He will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. Everyone is welcome to attend a celebration of Tony's Life on February 19, 2017 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Vital Cemetery and at 2:00 p.m. at The Winnipeg Winter Club. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Parkinson Canada or The Winnipeg Foundation.

As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jan 21, 2017