Louis M. Russell, Sr.

MR. LOUIS MARCUS RUSSELL, SR. RETIRED NASA AEROSPACE RESEARCH ENGINEER,

Mr. Louis Marcus Russell, Sr. was born January 3, 1929 to Joseph and Eliza Russell in Mt. Vernon, New York. At the age of 96, he departed this life at 4:10 am on March 27, 2025. He was at a nursing home, but he was not in hospice.  He grew up in Queens, New York City. Mr. Russell graduated from Manhattan Aviation High School in 1947 and from Howard University School of Engineering and Architecture in 1953 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engi­neering. While in college, he ran on the track team and was the District of Colum­bia 440-yard-dash champion in 1949. His picture was on the front page of the New York Herald-Tribune. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force, having served from 1953-1957. For a part of that time, he was stationed in Cheyenne, Wyoming.  In 1958, he studied Aeronautical Engineering at the Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn, New York. For many years, he held Registered Professional Engineers Licenses in the States of New York and Ohio.  Mr. Russell's work experience included 32 years (1962-1994) as an Aerospace Research Engineer at NASA Lewis Research Center (now NASA Glenn Research Center) in Cleveland, Ohio, where he did experimental research in liquid rocket propulsion and aircraft turbine cooling. Three of the many NASA awards he received were: (1) Apollo Achievement Award [for being part of a large team which helped to land man on the moon in 1969]; (2) NASA Sustained Superior Performance Award; and (3) NASA Exceptional Service Medal.  After living in New York, New Jersey, and Berea, Ohio, he resided in Olmsted Township, Ohio, with his first wife of 55 years, Iris Wells Russell (now deceased), and his second wife, Attorney Daisy Collins Russell, whom he married July 2, 2011.  Mr. Russell was the treasurer of the Howard University Alumni Club of Cleveland for more than forty years and he served as its president for one year. For many years, Mr. Russell was an active member of the National Technical Association (NTA), where he shared NASA technology with science and technology professionals and students and aspiring engineers. In 1992, he received the NTA's most prestigious award, the A.T. Weathers Award for Technical Achievement in recognition of his distinguished career and many contributions.  An avid tennis player, Mr. Russell served as treasurer of the Cleveland Forest City Tennis Club, which he joined in 1968, and he was president of the NASA-Lewis Tennis Club. Since 1965, he has been a member of the United Methodist Church of Berea, where he sang in the Chancel Choir from 1985 to approximately 2015. He monitored the heating system from 1998 to 2009. He was active in the Church and Society Committee and its predecessor for 48 years.  Louis M. Russell, Sr. is survived by his wife Daisy, daughters Rochelle Meredith of Los Angeles, Attorney Diane Fisher (Daren) of Sacramento, and Attorney Renee Becker (Daniel) of Las Vegas, and son Gregory Russell of Los Angeles, former daughter-in-law Marlane Williams, nephew Robert (Denise) of South Carolina, nephew Shelton (Dolly) of North Carolina, niece Karen of Queens, New York, and seven grandchildren: D.C., Rolando, Marcus, Ethan, Christian, Jordan, and Leland. His brothers William, Joseph Russell, Jr., son Louis, Jr. and grandson Miles Meredith predeceased him.  Funeral services will be on Friday April 11 at 12:00 p.m. where friends may call from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church of Berea, 170 Seminary Street, Berea, Ohio 44017. Arrangements were made by Baker - Kensinger Funeral Home, 206 Front Street, Berea, Ohio 44017. Burial will be at Sunset Memorial Park, 6265 Columbia Road, North Olmsted, Ohio 44070.

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