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Thomas Mathew Russin was born November 22, 1927 in Montville, NJ. He was the youngest of eight children and raised by his father after his mother died when he was 4 years old. He was drafted into the Army at the end of World War II and served in Japan. After returning to the US, Tom pursued varying careers including store ownership and house remodeling. Within a few years he returned to service as a Marine before finally settling on the Air Force to complete his 20 year career as a jet mechanic. Along the way he married the love of his life, Jane Wright, in 1960 and had two children, a son and daughter. They settled in Tucson, AZ in 1968 and eventually moved to Durango, CO in 2013 to be closer to family.
After retiring from the Air Force he completed his Master's Degree in Education from the University of Arizona and taught for almost 20 years. Finally not content to retire, he bought a business which he ran till his death on March 27, 2020.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jane and all of his siblings. He is survived by his son Robert Russin(Nina Russin) and daughter Peggy Russin(Johanna Martin) and the many friends he made along the way.
Service arrangements are pending. Donations in his memory can be made to the Hospice of Mercy.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Sponsored by Hood Mortuary - Durango.
5 Entries
Haven't forgotten you Tom - Don't think I will - Next time I see you show me how spectacular the room you created and had waiting for you in the great beyond - Thanks for taking the time to know me and no, I'm not going to pay your bills! And thanks for reminding me how important faith and family is - Until I see you again. Rick
Rick Ehat
Neighbor
March 24, 2021
Tom was our familys friend and cheerleader. He and Jane loves our children as if they were their grandchildren, and supported us any way they could. I am grateful to count myself his friend and minister. We are grieving his loss and continue to love him and Jane.
Christiane Heyde
April 18, 2020
I will miss you Tom. I lost a whisky drinking buddy, and if you have ever had one, you know the loss I feel. He often spoke of his beloved father who would greet visitors with a shot. I think he felt he was upholding his father's legacy when we would toast.
Living till the age of 92 (he made sure I always acknowledged what a big number that is!), I believe I heard of almost every level of his life. Some events I think I must have heard scores of times, but I never tired of the stories, because with patience you would always hear purpose, life lessons, spirituality, and true feelings to accompany the story. He was a treasure chest of those. He was an elder to look up to and to admire. As a neighbor, I couldn't ask for more. This even after he often complained I let the leaves blow into his yard, refused to pay his bills, as he threatened to hold a neighborhood election to see if I could stay.
He was always clear how deeply he felt for his wife (Jane), the research chemist, and his tremendous pride for his daughter (Peggy) and his son (Robert). Oh yea he was also proud of many things he accomplished in his life, all well deserved. So if you didn't know, he graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of Arizona, after graduating at the bottom at his high school. (All popular topics)
He often told me he was ready, but I wasn't. Thanks for being a friend, the eggnogs, and for your service to our country. Yea 92 Is a big number and thanks for sharing some of it with me.
See you later
Rick
Rick Ehat
April 6, 2020
Tom,
I will miss you. I lost a whisky drinking buddy, and if you have ever had one you know the loss I feel. He often spoke of his beloved father who would greet visitors with a shot. I think he felt he was upholding his father's legacy when we would toast.
Living till the age of 92 (he made sure I always acknowledged what a big number that is!), I believe I heard of almost every level of his life. Some events I think I must have heard scores of times, but I never tired of the stories, because with patience you would always hear purpose, life lessons, spirituality, and true feelings to accompany the story. He was a treasure chest of those. He was an elder to look up to and to admire. As a neighbor, I couldn't ask for more. This even after he often complained I let the leaves blow into his yard, refused to pay his bills, as he threatened to hold a neighborhood election to see if I could stay.
He was always clear how deeply he felt for his wife (Jane), the research chemist, and his tremendous pride for his daughter (Peggy) and his son (Robert). Oh yea he was also proud of many things he accomplished in his life, all well deserved. So if you didn't know, he graduated Suma Cum Laude from the University of Arizona, after graduating at the bottom at his high school. (All popular topics)
He often told me he was ready, but I wasn't. Thanks for being a friend, the egg nogs, and for your service to our country. Yea 92 Is a big number and thanks for sharing some of it with me.
See you later
Rick
Rick Ehat
April 6, 2020
What I will miss about Tom
Our discussions over coffee and Manhattan
cocktails where we bonded as family while
addressing many subjects, from religion to
politics and everything in between. We didn't always agree but he was never disagreeable.
Tom in his levelheaded approach to life was possessed of a very positive attitude and never once had anything bad to say about
anybody, and that is probably why he made
many new friends in Durango after he and Jane moved here from Tucson. I will miss
Tom's patience with my severe hearing loss
and the way he put up with my constant
interruptions of his opinions because I
simply could not discern when he was through talking. I know the world will miss
his kind wisdom and generosity.
We miss you Tom.
Peter Martin
Peter Martin
March 30, 2020
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