Deirdre Drew Russell

Deirdre (Dee) Russell, beloved wife of Jean Kates and resident of Bedford, MA, passed away on August 7, 2020, after a brave struggle with lung cancer. Dee was born in New York, NY in 1950 and grew up in Greenwich, CT.  She graduated from Connecticut College majoring in Psychology which fit her compassionate and understanding personality.  She received her MBA at Babson College.  Dee was a manager at McCormick and Dodge and  Sales Link in Massachusetts.  She also served as president and treasurer of the Bedford Unitarian Universalist First Parish church.

Dee and Jean met in 1974 and in 2004 were the first lesbian couple married in Bedford, MA.  Dee has two brothers, Ed Russell and his wife Laura of Boxborough, MA and James Russell of Ridgefield, CT.  She has 7 nieces and nephews and 10 grandnieces and nephews.  Dee and Jean delighted in their families and traveled regularly to Connecticut to care for grandnieces and nephews and give respite to their parents.

With a deep social conscience, Dee spoke up for social justice and civil liberties, and under the auspices of the UU Peace and Justice Committee, she traveled to Israel/Palestine on an interfaith Peace Builders delegation.  A Unitarian Universalist since her youth, Dee lived her values and prioritized deeds over creeds.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, 689 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138.  There will be a virtual memorial for Dee on August 29 at 5:00 P.M. Eastern Time.  The Memorial Service zoom link may be requested by emailing [email protected]