Russell Alan Smith

Russell Alan Smith passed away on Friday, February 17, 2023 at the age of 57, despite his best laid plans.

Russell was a native Austinite, born to Sheldon and Linda Smith on November 17, 1965. He spent the majority of his life in Austin where he roamed the Northwest Hills neighborhood as a boy and was an active leader of the nonprofit community as an adult. He stayed in Austin after high school to attend the University of Texas, where he received his undergraduate degree, and eventually his MBA from UT's McCombs School of Business. He also received his MSW from the University of Houston.

Russell grew up seeing the civic involvement of his paternal grandparents Sid and Bert Kruger Smith and followed in their footsteps to become a community leader in his own right. He was a lifelong Texas Democrat and notably coined the slogan "At Age 95, Who Needs Term Limits?" for his grandfather's late-in-life Congressional campaign. He held executive leadership positions in many nonprofit organizations, including YouthLaunch, Austin Child Guidance Center and Refugee Services of Texas. He also served as a volunteer Board member for nonprofits such as Regarding Cancer, Austin Groups for the Elderly (co-founded by his grandmother Bert Kruger Smith) as well as the First United Unitarian Church of Austin. His leadership extended into the classroom as a professor at the UT Steve Hicks School of Social Work and the University of Houston Graduate School of Social Work. Russell maintained many close friendships in the Austin nonprofit community. Always the networker, Russell was still passing out business cards the week before he died.

Beyond his professional accomplishments though, Russell was most proud of "helping launch three amazing humans into the world", his daughters Kaileigh, Alex and Abby Smith. He loved watching them each pursue their own paths and take steps towards becoming the people they wanted to be. He delighted in cooking family recipes with them, participating in school events, and embarrassing them with Dad jokes and advice in public. He loved them dearly and is currently working out the details of how to haunt anyone who crosses them.

Russell was an avid cyclist. He logged many miles on his bike and completed numerous MS 150's races. Competing was a family affair and he ran alongside his grandfather Sid in the Capital 10K until Sid finally retired as a runner (and walker and rider of golf carts) at the age of 98 years old.

Russell was a great writer and kept a blog (Corner Pieces) for over 30 years, in addition to penning the much-anticipated family holiday letter every year. He explored a wide range of topics - from Texas politics to parenting and even cancer - in his blog with good humor and wit until the end of his life.

Russell is survived by his former wife Jill, daughters Kaileigh of Austin, TX, Alex of New Orleans, LA, and Abby of San Antonio, TX. He is also survived by his father Shel and wife Joy of Scottsdale, AZ and his mother Linda Grayson and husband Tom of Magnolia, TX. He is also survived by his brother Stacy, his wife Holly, nephew Ryan and niece Hannah, as well as his Aunt Randy Huke and Uncle Mike (Lee) Goodman and several cousins. Stacy was a great friend and brother to Russell over the years, providing support in a variety of ways during his illness.

Finally, Russell would want you to know that for one glorious year he held the title of Central Market Chile King for his award-winning Hatch green chile recipe.

Memorial Service: Saturday, February 25th at 1pm, First Unitarian Universalist of Austin - 4700 Grover Ave., Austin TX 78756. Reception to follow at the lake house of Stacy and Holly Smith in Volente, TX.

In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Russell's memory can be made to Urban Roots, Austin Child Guidance Center, Refugee Services of Texas, AGE of Central Texas, or Regarding Cancer.