Harris Edward Russell

Harris Edward Russell, 69, husband of Therese Cargill Russell, a lifelong resident of the Southport section of Fairfield, died August 13 in Cape Cod Hospital.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by ten children including Timothy Russell and his wife, Bobbie Sue, of Sandy Hook; 12 grandchildren; one brother, William Russell of New York; and one sister, Suzanne Gross of Fairfield. He was predeceased by one son, William Cargill.

A principal of the Russell Agency in Southport, he was the former owner of Harris Hardware. He was a past president of the Fairfield Board of Realtors, and the Greater Bridgeport Independent Insurance Agents, as well as the past chairman of the New England PACER Council for Encompass Insurance. He served on a variety of civic organizations, including chairman of both the Southport Harbor Commission and the Southport Blessing of the Fleet and Street Parade. He was a past president of both the Dwight School PTA and the Southport Merchants Association.

He was a former trustee for both the Pequot Library and the Southport Conservancy, and was a member of the Alumni Board for Fairfield University (Class of 1957).

He was a 2002 recipient of the Paul Harris Service Award for outstanding community service. He was a member of the Patterson Club, the Fairfield County Hunt Club, and Pequot Yacht Club.

His memorial service was held August 19 at Trinity Episcopal Church, Southport, with the Rev E.R. Haire officiating.

Contributions may be directed to Southport Conservancy, Martha’s Vineyard Hospital Dialysis Center, or Trinity Church of Southport. Arrangements by the Lesko Funeral Home, in Fairfield Center.

The Newtown Bee        August 22, 2003