Revised: $Date: 2000/10/24 23:07:35 $
Bob Schreiber, Theta Delta Chi House Corporation
October 11, 2000Lindsay was always the stalwart of TDC. He was our link to many, many brothers and their families, spanning seven decades or more. Lindsay was the heart and soul of TDC, even during his retirement.
If his retirement is the definition of that word, then work must be unimaginably busy. He kept in touch with the boys at the House, and knew the undergraduates better than anyone else on House Corporation. His energy was famously unflagging, with an enthusiasm in every endeavor that exceeded that of any of us pre-retirement brothers.
Reading his 50th Class Reunion biography brings home the strong feeling that one would get from being in his presence, and that is the sense of his great kindness and caring. Knowing now about his labor of love for helping blind people reinforces this sense of what Lindsay was all about. On many occasions we in House Corporation have had to deal with the typical problems that the undergraduates run into, and we think, How would Lindsay handle this?
I only wish that we could use his kind but firm approach in all of our dealings with others. This world would be a much, much better place. That is why he will be missed by all of us who he touched with his energetic, optimistic, and brotherly way of living every day.
Mal Green, MIT 1950 Class President
October 12, 2000Lindsay Russell was a quiet and unassuming man. However, beneath his low key demeanor was a keen mind, a sharp sense of humor, and an energy which was effectively employed in the causes which interested him: MIT, his fraternity, hiking, and helping the blind. His many activities at MIT earned him its highest award, the Bronze Beaver. For the Class of 1950 Lindsay served on many reunion and gift committees and created and maintained what many consider to be the best class web page. Most recently he accepted the position of Class Agent. His presence and his contributions will be sorely missed.
Bob Snedeker '50, Class Secretary 1994 - 2000
October 12, 2000At his 50th Reunion, Lindsay was elected by his classmates to the office of Class Agent. He has been serving for many years in the semi-official office of Webtender during which he created a magnificent web page for his class.
Paul V. McLaughlin, Chair, Board of Trustees, National Braille Press
October 12, 2000It has been my privilege to have known and worked with Lindsay in his capacity as Trustee of National Braille Press. His wisdom, dedication and generosity were integral components to the success of the Press. He had a profound sense of justice and possessed a wonderful determination to ensure and expand Braille literacy. Upon the introduction of a new program of sponsorship for Braille texts, Lindsay was among the first to participate and continued to be a regular sponsor. He actively participated in our Investment Committee to ensure the best handling of our funds.
His guidance, friendship and smile will be missed.
Bill Raeder, President, National Braille Press
From a letter to the NBP Trustees, dated October 6, 2000...Lindsay was introduced to us by Bob Mann in the late 80's when he immediately became a major donor and a few years later became a Trustee. The two of them - Mr. Russell and Professor Mann - were classmates at MIT and in the 60's collaborated on technical and R&D projects for benefit to the blind. He was a wonderful Trustee with whom to work, eager to apply his technical competence to our benefit. He worked on several projects with us and has left a lasting legacy here in that he was the first to set up our Web Site: nbp.org, also now named braille.com. Responsive, competent, caring, writer of good reports and always pleasant to work with are the words that come to my mind.
Paul Gorenstein
October 13, 2000I was saddened to learn from the announcement posted in the lobby of 100 Memorial Drive that Lindsay had passed away. It must have been sudden or if he had been ill I was not aware of it.
We knew each other as neighbors, both of us being long term bachelor residents of 100 Memorial Drive in Cambridge. In fact, we were almost certainly among the half dozen people who have lived there the longest. Therefore even though we were both rather quiet fellows with these characteristics in common it was inevitable that we would become acquainted.
Our paths would cross in the hallways and in the parking garage because for many years our cars were lodged in adjoining parking spaces. We would also encounter each other on the jogging paths along the river. He was a rather good runner with much more endurance than I have. We chatted frequently about various things including science and politics. He must have been a rather good mountain climber. Several times I would see him get into his car in the morning with a small backup headed to New Hampshire to climb Mt. Monadnock. Seemed that he would be back before lunch with the mission accomplished.
I regret that I will no longer be seeing him.
Steven M. Dimond, Manager, M.I.T. Copy Technology Centers
October 13, 2000As manger of the MIT Copy Technology Centers on campus, I wish to extend our condolences to the Russell family. All of us in customer service here got to know Mr. Russell over the years and we will miss his visits. In an environment where stress, impatience, and demands are the norm, Mr. Russell was the most pleasant of diversions. Quietly polite, always with a smile and kind word, he was what we call a "dream customer". Through the years of his using our facility, some of us never got to know his full name or background. In being informed of his passing and seeing his picture, all of us have been saddened by this loss. I am sure we were not a major part of his rich life, and he was one of thousands of customers passing through our doors, but we will miss his visits. "Dream customers" are few and far between.
Robert W. Mann, Sc.D., Whitaker Professor Emeritus, MIT
October 14, 2000I want to speak of Lindsay as MIT classmate, on his work on behalf of blind persons, as generous benefactor, and as friend. Lindsay's quiet, self-effacing character was such that his life integrated these attributes into a seamless whole.
Steve Weissburg
October 12, 2000Please accept my condolence on the passing of your brother and uncle Lindsay. I have been his "hall mate" at 238 Main street for 9 years. I just saw Lindsay in the Infinite Corridor of the Institute the week, or two before he passed away. I knew slightly of his mountain climbing passion, and was looking forward to telling him about my 6 year old's first ascent of Mt. Monadnock, which just happened to be October 7.
Visiting with Lindsay was a rare pleasure here in the building, as he came less frequently in recent years, and was always busily working in the shop. However, over the years, I had the benefit of his knowledge when fixing various household electronic devices, such as keyboards, model train transformers, and coffee makers. He also helped me in my lease negotiations with the landlord, MIT. Truly, I will miss his quiet, wide experience.
By the way, the web tribute to Lindsay is very nice, especially the picture. It is so true, particularly the cocked head and subtle smile. I also enjoyed the autobiographical notes.
Bob O'Brien
October 19, 2000I've served with Lindsay on the Board of the National Braille Press for some time. At the beginning of the last meeting of the Board, in September, Bob Mann told us that Lindsay wouldn't be at the meeting, for he'd experienced a heart attack, and was under care at Spaulding. There was quiet for a while, for none of us knew quite what to do with this news. I felt surprise, consternation that Lindsay could actually be ill, disappointment that the meeting would not be as productive in his absence, confidence that he'd pull through, and that we'd soon have his gifts of perspective, judgment, and wit and kindness with us again.
I was in England last week when I heard that he had passed away. Among my reactions, I realized afterward was the selfish sense that I'd been deprived of something I'd wanted - I'd wanted to come to know Lindsey a lot better in the years ahead.
He's been an inspiration to many people over the years, in many ways. He'll remain a reminder to me of the meaning of integrity, determination, engagement, commitment to worthwhile causes.
Please accept my sympathy.
Richard Soenneker '00
October 23, 2000The MIT chapter of Theta Delta Chi sends out a newsletter every year or so about the current happenings in the house, and to keep the alumni aware of any relevant news. When the time came to put one together a few years ago, the task fell to me. As it had been 3 or 4 years since the last newsletter had gone out, no one was quite sure how to do it. I emailed Lindsay, and he emailed me back to write up some text about the house currently, and he'd help me do the rest. I wrote up about 5 pages of text, partially edited it, and sent it to Lindsay for comments. His response was amazing and immediate -- two days later I found in my mailbox at the house a fully laid out version of my text (with more editing), his alumni news, little graphics, pictures, etc. I'd guess he also helped lay out all of the other ones, since they had all looked the same since 1980. He wouldn't let me thank him in the text of the newsletter, but he sure deserved thanks.
During that same newsletter experience, I went over to his apartment so we could decide on the final layout and put in a few final changes. We got to talking about the Simpsons (I considered myself a big fan) and he mentioned a quiz he'd put together about the show. He printed me out a copy and I went home. The quiz consisted of short quotes from the Simpsons -- the test was could you identify the character, and which episode they were from. I got about 10 of 50 -- 5 of which were the first 5 questions, which Lindsay later identified as "warm-up questions anyone should know". I still get a warm feeling every time I hear a line on the Simpsons and can hear Lindsay tell me about the episode.. The best one was the episode where Bart ends up working in a burlesque house as punishment, and is looking for a job to do. He suggests sorting bras, but is happily put to unclogging toilets. Bart's comment, "Just glad to be on the team, ma'am", was one of Lindsay's quiz questions, and one he laughed relating...
Ed Stark, Mt Monadnock ranger
October 23, 2000Just this Sunday I learned of the passing of Lindsay Russell, I will attempt to speak for the numerous hikers and Monadnock Park staff who knew Lindsay. Many of these people are probably still unaware of his passing. Hikers normally don't actually find out that someone has passed away, usually someone will just say I haven't seen so and so for awhile, I wonder if their okay? Many of us who enjoy hiking, do it not only for the physical activity, but to clear the mind. We know little about each other, and primarily discuss hiking. Other than the fact that Lindsay told us he was a retired engineer, we just knew a good man with a great smile, who had a passion for the mountains and hiking.
To meet and know someone at Mt Monadnock they must standout in the crowd of thousands that frequent the mountain, Lindsay was that kind of man. It was always a pleasure to see him come into the park, he took the time to say hello to the staff and numerous hikers. He frequently spent the whole day hiking the mountain, usually starting up the mountain on the Spellman Tr. (The most difficult trail on the mountain), from there he would be totally flexible. If you asked him where he was going from there he would usually say he hadn't decided yet. I would see him sometime in the middle of the day, when he was coming to or leaving the summit for the second time, and talk to him about where he had been that day, and was always amazed at how much ground he had covered.
He said he preferred hiking to running, because hikers took the time to talk and smiled a lot more than joggers. We will miss HIS smile and positive attitude on Mt. Monadnock.