Anthony R. Russell

Gardiner, ME- Anthony Richard Russell, 59, known as Tony by most, died on Monday, April 17, at Maine General Medical Center in Augusta following courageous battles with rheumatoid arthritis, lung cancer, and pneumonia.
Tony was born on April 30, 1963 in Bennington, VT, the son of Stanley Richard Russell. Tony spent most of his childhood in Readsboro, VT, and graduated from Whitingham High School in 1981. He married Ilene (Farrington) in 1987 at the Jacksonville Community Church. They started and raised their family in Readsboro. Tony and his family moved to Gardiner  in 2002.
Tony started working at a young age, beginning with groundskeeping at Readsboro cemeteries. He worked at the Vermont Chair Factory while in high school, and spent some years working at Mount Snow. After graduating he worked at the Deerfield Specialty Papers glassine mill. Tony always loved working outside, and after the glassine mill closed he began a long career in construction. He worked as a laborer and heavy equipment operator for the towns of Readsboro and Whitingham and as a utility worker, heavy equipment operator, and foreman for Bemis Line Construction in Jacksonville. After moving to Maine, Tony worked as a crusher operator for Crooker Construction at their facilities in Whitefield and Topsham.
Tony was always a very dedicated and hard-working employee who continued working as long as his body would allow, up until a few weeks before his death.
A devoted father and husband, Tony enjoyed spending his free time with his family and their pets, working on improvements to the family home, and cooking. He was a fan of New England sports and enjoyed watching the Bruins, Patriots, and Red Sox.
Tony was preceded in death by his father Stanley and his sisters Debbie and Robin. He is survived by Ilene, his wife of more than 35 years; his daughter Tanya; his son Cody; his sisters Kim, Lisa, and Karen; his brother Michael; as well as many aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
Tony was always very generous and in lieu of flowers donations may be made in Tony’s name to The Arthritis Foundation, 1355 Peachtree Street, Suite 600, Atlanta, GA 30309 or the Kennebec Valley Humane Society, 10 Pet Haven Lane, Augusta, ME 04330.
Visiting hours for Tony will be held on Friday, June 9, at 1 pm, followed by a funeral service at 3 pm at Staples Funeral Home, 53 Brunswick Avenue, Gardiner.
Condolences, memories, and photos may be shared with the family on the obituary page at www.staplesfuneralhome.com.