Russell William Ranshaw

Russell William Ranshaw, 87, of Port Colborne passed away peacefully on May 27, 2023, surrounded by loved ones.

Russell was born February 11, 1936 to Frederick William Ranshaw and Mildred Irene Freeburg in Neville Island, Pennsylvania. He graduated from Moon Township High and attended the University of Pittsburgh. In 1960, he graduated with a Masters in Electrical Engineering.

Always an innovator, Russell was a pioneer in computer communication. He foresaw the potential of technology and brought his visions to fruition. Russell was a world-class software engineer whose career spanned decades and included over twenty years with CompuServe Information Service in Columbus, Ohio. While at CompuServe, he was known as the "Wizard of Ten." He had a significant impact on the developing computer industry, including developing a new file transfer protocol for CompuServe that allowed files to be uploaded and downloaded.

After retiring, Russell moved to Canada with his wife. Together, they traveled and explored the world. They delved into genealogy and their research led them on many adventures in the United States and abroad. Russell was a life-long learner whose curiosity could never be quenched.

Russell is preceded in death by his parents and sister, Doris Hamilton. He leaves behind his wife, Barbara; daughters Allison, Shannon, and Aileen; grandchildren Fiona, Devon, Gavin, Eliana, Dermot, Olivia, Aoife, Isaac, and Matthew.

There will be no visitation or service. Cremation has taken place.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Port Cares (https://www.portcares.ca/) or to your favorite organization that supports underserved populations in your community.