Susan Collins Russell

Susan Collins Russell, age 86 and a resident of Washington, DC, died on February 2, 2024, at Georgetown University Hospital. The cause of death was a hemorrhagic stroke resulting from a fall. Born on April 24, 1937, she was the daughter of Joseph Kinney Collins and Grace Mullowney Collins. She spent her childhood and young adult years in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Newton College of the Sacred Heart, graduating in 1959.

She met her husband, Ron, while teaching elementary school students in the Boston area. Upon marriage she joined Ron in Sabah, Malaysia, where he had moved to work for the Ford Foundation. They started a family in Malaysia, and their life of travel continued when Ron joined the U.S. Agency for International Development. During his career with USAID, he was posted to Argentina, Bolivia, and Panama. She was active all of these years in the communities where they lived, while simultaneously running a household.

As her children grew older, she returned to teaching. Following a permanent move back to Washington, she worked at the Department of State, processing freedom of information requests. In retirement she and Ron travelled widely, including to Australia, Thailand, France, and Mexico.

She is survived by her sons Thomas, Andrew and Michael; and by her grandchildren Sarah, Aaron, Michael and Melanie. Her husband, Ron, died in 2020. A private memorial service will be hald at a later date.