Although he was a very quiet person‚ his actions spoke louder than his words. He had a sparkle in his smile and a glint in his eye that immediately drew you to him.
Being a firefighter was his passions – his dream job. He lived‚ worked and slept ‘firefighter.’ Previous to becoming a firefighter‚ he worked as a carpenter and used his carpentry skills to build many things around the firehouse. A workbench‚ an activity center‚ and an award and memorial cabinet at the firehouse were built by him. Little did he realize that his picture and those from his engine company that perished with him would be the first to be memorialized in the cabinet. At home he kept busy using his carpentry skills around the house. He even built his own bedroom set.
He liked living on the edge and loved water sports. He had a boat for water skiing‚ a wave runner‚ and a kayak. He was also a master scuba diver and was thinking of teaching diving in his spare time‚ but this never came to pass.
Our local paper described him as being involved with fire and water. If he wasn’t putting out fires he was either in the water‚ on the water‚ or under the water. He had a mountain bike and went on many local bike tours. In the winter‚ the skis came out and he couldn’t wait for the first good snow. After his death‚ we found out that he had already made reservations to go on a sky dive but didn’t tell us because he thought we would worry.
He loved life and lived it to the fullest. If you ever met him you would never forget him. He will be missed forever. WE WILL NEVER FORGET!!!
Marie Russell
Stephen Russell was remembered at the NFFF stair climb at Lambaue Field this weekend. A badge in his honor showing his beeming smiling face was proudly worn as the rememberance bell was rang celebrating his life and service. He will not be forgotten…
– M KephartI wanted to express my sincere appreciation to Stephen Russell’s family and scholarship fund in his honor. My child was a recipient of the scholarship fund. What a blessing and we will Never Forget Stephen Russell and his selfless service in life and to the firefighting community. God Bless his family!
– Shirley DuluxI wore Stephen’s badge along with two other fire fighters in the NFFF stair climb this past weekend. He was definitely remembered and I thank you for allowing me to carry his personality and bravery throughout the climb! I will now have his badge at every climb in the future! Never Forget!!
– Meredith BaciakToday, I climbed with NFFF for Stephen in Columbus, Ohio. It was an honor. Stephen will never be forgotten. Bless you.
– Aimee MitchellI wore his picture today as we did the 2,071 stairs to honor first responders. I found is big picture up a steep side of the climb. Never forgotten
– Green CawoodAll firefighters who participated in the Melbourne Fire Fighter Stair Climb on the 7 Sep 2019 were assigned a Fallen Fire Fighter from 911 to climb in memory of. On the right hand side of my tag is the name and photograph of Stephen Russell. It was an honour to climb in his and all of the 343’s memory.
– Mandy DempseyToday, 9/11/2021, I proudly wore Stephen’s badge at the stair climb at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado. He will not be forgotten.
– Kathi BlackIt has been 21 years since we lost Steve but it feels like yesterday!!! Our love and admiration for this hero will never fade away as he will live forever in our hearts!!!!
– Jorge GuimaraesI had the pleasure and the honor to have the opportunity to interact with him before his tragic passing. Steve was an amazing g person a good friend. I do recall our many SCUBA diving dives and how passionate he was about diving. He will never be forgotten!!!
– Jorge Guimaraes