AUGUSTA – Jonathan Peter Russell, 80, died on Saturday, July 30, 2022, at Maine Veterans’ Homes Augusta (MVH) where he was a resident for over eight years.

“What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.” (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

The above quote was a favorite of Jonathan’s and certainly applies to his hopeful outlook even in the face of the challenges he had in his later years. The people in his life were most important to him; kindness to others was his way and he always appreciated kindness he received as well from family and friends, including residents and staff and community members at his last home MVH.

Jon grew up in Massachusetts, the son and firstborn of Chester and Dorothy Russell. He lived most of his life in Braintree and later in Weymouth, MA, relocating to Augusta over 8 years ago (to be closer to his sister Linda). He attended Northeastern University and Wentworth Institute of Technology. He served in the U.S. Army in the late 1960s.

He worked for Unfinished Furniture House store in Framingham, Mass., for many years as store manager and found he loved not only helping people but finishing the well-made wooden furniture for customers and for family and friends as gifts (we all have at least one well-loved piece in our homes!)

Jon enjoyed family gatherings most of all: Christmas and summer vacations in Maine, Thanksgivings in Braintree, Labor Day birthday celebrations in NH, and his four nieces’ and their cousins’ weddings. He also hosted many birthday and other family celebrations at his MVH home.

His family will always remember Jon’s love of gardening, birds, and the numerous family pets, fixing things, puzzles, card games, and his train and other collections. He was always quick to offer help to family and friends with outdoor projects, furniture repairs or just enjoying a meal out at a favorite restaurant. His nieces and grandnieces and grandnephews loved his ghost storytelling and coming to visit him in his MVH home. He had many pictures of family in his room, especially of his nieces and nephews, who he spoke to the staff about often – he loved and was very proud of them all.

Jonathan is survived by his sister Linda Findlay and her husband Douglas Findlay; his sister Deborah Russell and her husband John Thomas; by Linda and Doug’s three daughters and their husbands and children: Heather Findlay and Tony Pikramenos with Ember and Ryder; Sarah Carlson and David Carlson with Luna and Story; and Megan Anderson and Eric Anderson with Aimon and Eleanor; and Deb and John’s daughter Alison Pacella and her husband Jeremy Pacella. Jon is also survived by several cousins, notably Craig Russell, Bruce MacWilliams, Glen and Susan MacWilliams and Roberta and Phil Lynch, and several close friends, notably Tom Williams and his family and Tom Norris.

A private service will be held at MVH Augusta in August with interment at a later date at Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree, Mass.

Jon’s family would like to gratefully acknowledge the wonderful care he received at MVH Augusta and in lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Jon’s name may be made to Maine Veterans’ Homes Augusta, 35 Heroes Way, Augusta ME 04330 (https://mainevets.org/locations/augustadonations) or to a charity of your choice.