Stephen Wood Russ

AUGUSTA – Stephen Wood Russ, 74, died peacefully on Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2022 in Augusta after a long illness. He was surrounded by his family and his three children stood by his side.

Steve was a 13th-generation Mainer who was born and attended grade school in Cape Elizabeth, the son of Robert Crossland Russ and Madelene Weeks Bunker. He grew up spending summers at a cottage on Cape Rosier in Brooksville and loved spending time there with family throughout his life.

He attended college at Boston College, the University of Maine in Farmington, and the University of Maine in Orono, where he received his BA. He lived a full life raising children in Maine and New Mexico, where he lived for a number of years. He finally ended up in central Maine where he met his wife, Judith Aho Russ. Steve and Judi lived for many years in Farmingdale and Hallowell. Steve worked for almost 30 years as a health educator for the state. Later in life Steve found great importance and comfort in his faith.

Just prior to his passing the nurses and staff at the Gray Birch facility frequently stopped by his room to share their fondness of Steve. He was a kind and loving person who always had time to listen to others and share advice, and he made friends anywhere he went. He was an “old hippie” who attended Woodstock and shared his love of music with his children. His son Nathaniel remembers peaceful Saturday night car rides with his brother Abel and their dad, listening to a weekly Celtic music program on NPR while cruising along country roads. Steve loved baseball and his children have great memories of long wiffle ball games at their grandparents’ home in Cape Elizabeth. Steve will be greatly missed by his family.

Surviving are his wife, Judith Russ; son, Abel Russ, Abel’s wife, Jessica Scott, and grandsons, Obadiah and Kai of Saint George, Vt.; son, Nathaniel Russ of Bangor; daughter, Alexie Russ-Mapson, her husband, Nathan Mapson; and granddaughters, Zoë and Niamh of Colorado Springs, Colo.; stepson, Daniel Aho, his wife, Stevie, and their children, Eva and Nea of Cumberland; brother, Joel Russ of Walpole, Maine; nephew, Andrew Russ of Damariscotta and nephew, Matthew Russ of Waterville.

The family will be having a private service at a later date. Condolences to the family may be expressed at BrookingsSmith.com.




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