Russell M. Cain

Passed away March 23, 2026.

Russell was born in Pittsburgh, PA, to Lillian Noon Cain and Ralph Harold Cain. They moved many times in his youth for his father's work, finally settling in Columbus, Ohio. He graduated from Upper Arlington HS, then went to The Ohio State University for his undergraduate and medical degrees. At OSU he met and married his wife, Nancy Napier. Together they went to Madison, WI, for their residency training. While there they welcomed their daughter, Christine. Shortly after her arrival Russell was sent to Oakland (California) Naval Hospital to serve two years in the Navy. During his service, he worked with many severely injured men and began to think about the development of PTSD (at that point still called shell shock). After leaving the Navy they settled in Rochester where he continued to work with veterans, always meeting them wherever help was needed, whether in their homes or in the woods.

Rus was a clinical professor of Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. He had a private practice, but much of his career involved helping patients who were less well off, including in community mental health centers. He was involved in starting the Blue Choice HMO and served on its board. He was active in the American Psychiatric Association on the local, state and national levels.

His hobbies included wood working, photography, music, traveling and sailing. Every summer he would sail across Ontario with his family for their vacations in the Thousand Islands.

He will be sorely missed by his daughter and wife, his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, his niece, nephew and many cousins.

There will be a graveside service on Thursday, 4/2 at 1 pm in Mt. Hope Cemetery, followed immediately after by a reception at the Highlands.