Russell D. L. Wirth Jr.

1930 - 2013

Wirth, Russell D. L., Jr., 83 years old, passed away peacefully on Friday August 9, 2013 in Peoria, AZ. Russell D. L. Wirth Jr. was born to Russell D. L. Wirth and Mary McMahon Wirth in Milwaukee, WI on June 30, 1930. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree summa cum laude, from Yale University in 1951 and was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. He later earned a Master's Degree with honors from the School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in 1954. In 1958, Russell married Alice Guion Ardrey of Dallas, TX. The couple divorced in 1971. Russell's business career included: staff student commandant US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Washington; personal aide to chairman Senate Foreign Relations Committee Alexander Wiley, 1954-1955; coordinator with President Eisenhower, White House; personal assistant to managing partner corp. underwriting department Blyth & Co., Inc., Wall Street, 1957-59; U.S. loan officer for Latin Am., US Development Loan Fund, Washington, 1960-61; co-founder, president Saint-Phalle, Spalding & Wirth, Inc., Buenos Aires, 1962-63; executive vice president International Investment Co., Washington, 1963-64; investment officer Chase International Investment Co., 1965-67; assistant to president David Rockefeller, Chase Manhattan Bank, 1965-67; co-founder, president Puerto Rican Fin. Group (PRFG), San Juan, 1968-92; co-founder, director, stockholder jointly with Sun Oil Co. Hemisphere Oil Co., 1978-1993, board executive committee, 1978-1993; founder and ltd. partner in development with Tishman Realty and Construction Co., Concord Centre Complex, Concord, California, 1980-84; founder, managing director Wirth and Co. International Investment Bankers, 1989- Russell's military career included: 2nd Lieutenant, US Marine Corps Reserve, Korea, 1951-53: Decorated Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, UN Korean War medal with 3 battle stars, US and Korean Presidential unit citations; Major, US Army Special Forces (Airborne) from 1977 -84. US Reserve and National Guard from 1977-1984. Distinguished Service medal Governor US, Virgin Islands. Russell's athletic achievements include: US National champion, sprint triathlon; 2x US All-Am. in US Triathlon; 4x Florida State champion, sprint triathlon; Florida State half-marathon champion; 4th in world in Iron Man World Triathlon Championship; qualified and completed Boston, New York City, San Francisco, Miami marathons; member U.S. National Triathlon Team USA, which won World Triathlon Championship, Cancun, Mexico, 1995. In addition to his son Russell D.L. Wirth III and his daughter Mary Elizabeth Wirth, he is also survived by his sister Mary Rogers Littell and his brother Harry McMahon Wirth.