Todd Thayer Russell

Presque Isle - Todd Thayer Russell of Presque Isle, Maine passed away March 8, 2024, from the effects of metastatic melanoma. Born in Vermont in April of 1943, he was the son of Cecil Russell and Emma (Weiss) Russell. He grew up in a suburb of Hartford, Connecticut, and graduated from Wethersfield High School (WHS) in 1961. As a young man, Todd was an avid sports enthusiast who was a member of the WHS basketball and golf teams. He then matriculated at Ottawa University (OU) in Ottawa, Kansas, and played on the Braves' varsity basketball team during his time there as a student. After graduating from OU in 1966, he enlisted in the US Army as an officer from 1966-1969 and served in the Vietnam conflict during this time period.
After being honorably discharged, Todd earned a masters degree in physical education from Wichita State University (WSU) in Wichita, Kansas in 1973; subsequently, he commenced a position as an elementary physical education teacher in the Wichita Public Schools (WPS). He taught in the WPS for 26 years, where one of his crowning achievements was helping to create Woodland Health and Wellness Magnet, a unique health and wellness themed elementary school. While he maintained his high standard of teaching and continued to be a phenomenal father to his sons Brook and Trent Russell, he made time to earn a masters in sports administration from WSU in 1986 and an EdD from Oklahoma State University in 1991. Todd retired from the WPS in 1999 to take a faculty position in the Education Department at the University of Great Falls in Great Falls, Montana. He later accepted a faculty position in the University of Maine at Presque Isle's Department of Education, necessitating his move to Maine in 2008. He was married twice, and he served as a caregiver for Kaye Russell, his second wife, as she ultimately succumbed to the effects of Alzheimer's disease.
Sports and recreation were always central to Todd's identity. During his tenure as an elementary PE teacher in Wichita, he helped to shape the lives of numerous student athletes at Wichita North High School through coaching volleyball, basketball, and soccer. Throughout his life, Todd derived great pleasure from distance running. In his younger years, he medaled in several competitive marathons, and continued his near-daily early morning training runs even past his 80th birthday. However, Todd's primary passion was focused on outdoor recreation and conservancy. He found peace and meaning in wild places, and throughout his life was able to experience these wild places via bicycle, canoe, kayak, skis, snowshoes, and on foot. Hiking was Todd's preferred mode of transportation in the backcountry, and after the age of 50 he hiked all 2,100+ miles of the Appalachian Trail and all 2,600+ miles of the Pacific Crest Trail. For his backpacking adventures, Todd adopted the trail name 'Slim Gym', and made countless friends on his many through hikes. Most recently, he enjoyed spending time on the trail with his beloved friend and hiking companion, Linda Keister of Presque Isle, Maine. In the last few years, Todd had moved his focus to the high elevation Colorado Trail, and was planning to attempt it again this coming summer.
Todd is survived by his sons, Brook Russell (Maya), of South Carolina, and their children, Zara (15) and Colin (13), and Trent Russell (Shari) of California, and their children, Tyler (12), Meredith (8), and Zachary (6). He will be missed by his sister, Valerie Veitch of North Carolina. Todd was preceded in death by his parents Cecil and Emma Russell, and wife Kaye Russell.
The family would like to express deep gratitude to the staff of Northern Light AR Gould Hospital in Presque Isle, Maine for the compassionate care that they gave Todd in the last weeks of his life. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Appalachian Trail Conservancy (https://appalachiantrail.org/). The family is planning a memorial service to honor Todd later this summer.