Name: Visitation for RUSSELL R. ATTIS
Start: 2019-03-20T21:00:00.000Z
End: 2019-03-21T00:00:00.000Z
Location: Glueckert Funeral Home Ltd.

ARLINGTON HEIGHTS Russell R. Attis was born August 8, 1923 in Elkhart, IN to Frank and Theresa (nee Albano) Attis. He died March 16, 2019 at the Abington of Glenview. Mr. Attis received his undergraduate degree in physical education in 1945 and his Masters in education in 1946 from the University of Illinois where he belonged to the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity. After graduating Mr. Attis taught at the University of Illinois for one year (Urbana and Navy Pier Campus'), Chicago Public Schools for two and a half years and later at the Northern Illinois University. He retired in 1984 after 34 years of coaching and teaching at Arlington High School. He was the Director of Athletics at time of his retirement and had taught physical education, health and drivers education. During his tenure at Arlington Russell was head coach of the Varsity boys track and cross country teams and Varsity girls track. He served as an official at the Illinois Boys State Track meet for 24 years. In 1978 Russ was named Athletic Director of the year by the Illinois Athletic Director's Association. His impressive career includes 14 years as a member of the Lattof International YMCA Board of Directors. He was a member of the Des Plaines Elks Club, Arlington Heights Optimists Club and a long time member and usher at St. James Catholic Church. Charter Member of Oak Park Ski Club. Russell is survived by his nephews, Frank (Susan) and Anton Ursini; his great-nieces, Caitlin, Meagan (Andrew) Dimit and Tess Ann; and his goddaughter, Susan Kubik. He is preceded in death by his sister, Dolores Ursini; his parents; and his longtime friend, Phil Podulka, to whom he was best-man and a childhood friend. Visitation Wednesday, March 20, 2019 from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM at the Glueckert Funeral Home, Ltd., 1520 N. Arlington Heights Road, (4 blocks south of Palatine Road) Arlington Heights. Funeral Mass 10:00 AM, Thursday, March 21, 2019 at St. Edna Catholic Church, 2525 North Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. Entombment All Saints Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be given to Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, 1140 W. Jackson Blvd., Chicago, IL 60607 www.mercyhome.org. Funeral information and condolences www.GlueckertFH.com or (847) 253-0168.

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Published by Daily Herald from Mar. 18 to Mar. 19, 2019.

Memories and Condolences
for RUSSELL ATTIS

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12 Entries

March 26, 2019

My drivers Ed teacher in 64. Great teacher.

Pat Knowles,

March 24, 2019

I remember Coach Attis very well. He would issue his call for the cross county team by telling us how nice the view is watching the trees and houses go by during a run. After PE class was over he would wait for the bell to ring and then yell, "DISAPPEAR!" while he started his own workout running laps around the gym. When one thinks of a master teacher and coach he would be one of the first to come to mind.

Fair Winds and Following Seas, Mr. Attis, and THANKS.

Ren Sanfilip

March 24, 2019

I went to Arlington 62/64.....Coach Attis was one of my best coaches...especially in Wrestling....use to love to watch him work out...lots of us idolized him....he live a good long life....RIP Coach Attis.....

Ralph Law

March 19, 2019

Russ was my athletic mentor. Met him as a kid at Recreation Park in Arlington Heights when I was 12 in 1956. He was bench pressing weights where he checked out sports equipment to use. Heck, The Chicago Bears didn't even have a weight room back then. Later he would ask me how many push-ups and pull-ups I could do.

Eventually I would do 306 in high school PE where coach Bob Baker came in to see if I was cheating in some way. I ran cross country and track.

Russ never put pressure on people. He let you make choices about your commitment and effort. I wasn't all that committed but not too many years later I was.

I still talk about and describe Russ even now to people. When I coached high school baseball and also coached basketball in California I was a combination of trying to be like Russ Attis and Bob Baker at the same time. Firm but fair?? My nickname became Mr. Fit as an adult, and I owe that to Russ Attis.

Russ knew about Isometrics, weight training, and Fartlek workouts 60 years ago. Russ was ahead of his time. In the late 1990's Russ sent me some Arlington Cardinals memorabilia.

In 2013 I wrote numerous letters to the ITCCCA submitting Russ for the Illinois Track & Cross Country Coaches Hall of Fame. Russ's years as a coach were in a time warp as his outstanding athletes were late 60's and older. He thanked me through his friend Bob Frisk. Russ was an outstanding coach, and he had numerous athletes achieve Illinois State Track Meet and Cross Country achievements. He had top performers in the hurdles, shot put, discus, high jump pole vaultincluding several state champions. I was unsuccessful but so what.

Anyone who attended Arlington, anyone who had Russ as a coach, driver's education instructor, study hall monitor, PE teacher, an fellow teacher or school administrator - all knew what Russ meant to Arlington High School, and to each of us personally.

As I officiated a high school girl's fastpitch softball game today I thought of Russ, and how he conducted himself. At the end of the game one of the young ladies thanked me for saying encouraging things to them, and the coach said that I always put the players first, and made it fun. That's the little bit of Russ Attis I have been able to absorb and hold on to.

March 19, 2019

Sorry to hear of Russ's passing. I'm a long time ago Oak Park Ski Club member, which is where I first met Russ. I remember him not only on the ski hill, where he was an excellent skier, but he also asked me out on his sail boat on Lake Michigan. He was always a gentleman and I'll remember him fondly, my sympathy to his family.

Joy Paddersen Carren

FDR

March 19, 2019

Dear Frank, Susan and family. We are so saddened to hear about Russell and offer you our deepest condolences. May the God of all comfort be with you during this difficult time. Hosea 13:14

Don Armentrout

March 19, 2019

Rest in well deserved Peace, coach.

Jim Kouzmanoff

March 18, 2019

You will be missed by many Russ. What a fantastic fellow. We first met at Rec.Park about 1950 when he ran the youth programs. Later in high school I was his team manager for track&field. So glad we had a chat at our class 50th reunion. Rest in peace.

Mercy Home for Boys & Girls

March 18, 2019

On behalf of Fr. Scott Donahue and Mercy Home for Boys & Girls, we would like to extend our heartfelt condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Russell Attis.

May the angels lead him into paradise; may the martyrs come to welcome him and take him to the holy city, the new and eternal Jerusalem.