Russ died Feb. 5, 2014, in Princeton.

Russ spent three years in the Air Force, serving from 1942 to 1945 before coming to Princeton. He flew in many combat missions and received the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Air Medal with 11 clusters, the ETO ribbon with five clusters, and the Belgian Fourragère.

As an undergraduate, he rowed on the crew, ate at Ivy, and majored in history. Russ was married for his last year at school and graduated the same day his daughter, Elizabeth, was born.

  He spent his entire career in the airline industry and loved every minute of his time with five major airlines. As he once said, ”If you do what you love, you will never [just] work a day in your life.” Russ never lost his love for the “wild blue yonder.”

He is survived by his wife, Susan Soderman Thayer; his children, Elizabeth, Dixon, Shelby, Samuel, and David; and his six stepchildren. Russ’ first wife, Elizabeth Mifflin, died in 1994. The class extends its sincere condolences to the extended family.

Undergraduate Class of 1949