May 28, 2013

World War II veteran

Leo P. Russell, 94, died peacefully Tuesday, May 21, 2013, surrounded by his family.

Mr. Russell touched the lives of countless people and will be remembered as a man of faith, integrity and devotion to the causes and organizations important to him. He loved family gatherings and was the life of many parties. Until recently, he continued to enjoy a game of golf at Chartiers Country Club, where he was the longest tenured golf member.

He was born March 15, 1919, a son of Niles Edward and Helen Davis Russell.

Mr. Russell spent his early childhood in Linesville and Erie before his family moved to Mt. Lebanon in 1929.

He graduated from Penn State University in 1941 with a bachelor of science degree in industrial engineering and remained a loyal alumnus, attending his 70th reunion in 2011.

During World War II, he served in the U.S. Navy on the USS Cincinnati and the Tarawa.

Along with his father, he founded Russell Industries, an asphalt paving contractor, which he sold in 1996. He was an active member of the industry, serving as president of the Constructors Association of Western Pennsylvania in 1974 and president of the Association of Pennsylvania Contractors from 1981-82.

Service was important to Mr. Russell. He spent many years on the board of the Pittsburgh Guild for the Blind and was honored in 1994 with the Monsignor Paul M. Lackner Humanitarian Award. He also served as president of St. Clair Hospital board and was active with St. Vincent de Paul Society and Serra Club. He created two awards at Penn State, the Pauline Schmitt Russell Distinguished Research Career Award in the College of Health and Human Development and the Leo P. Russell Graduate Fellowship in Civil Engineering. His stepchildren also created the Leo and Marie Russell Scholarship, given each year to two graduating seniors at Mt. Lebanon High School.

Mr. Russell was the beloved husband of the late Marie Heim Fleming and Pauline Ann Schmitt; devoted father of John (Marilyn), Stephen (Kathleen), Marie (Kenneth) Klaer, Mark (Gail), Kevin and the late Michael Russell; father-in-law of Nancy; brother of the late Edward Russell, Margaret Johnson and Mary Jane (Rusty) Trotter; stepfather of Terrence (Heidi), David (Elizabeth), Peter (Molly), Daniel and the late Virginia Fleming; grandfather of Amanda (Thomas), Andrew, Erin, Patrick, Meghan, Thomas, Margaret, Connor, Fiona, Tricia (Davis), Michelle, Eileen, Christopher, Dillon, Eric, Sarah (Jeff), Stephanie, Patrick, Christie, Bridget and the late Eric; and great-grandfather of Ella, Anna, Alexandra and Ashley.

Arrangements were handled by Laughlin Memorial Chapel, Mt. Lebanon. www.laughlinfuneralhome.com