ELEANOR MARY RUSSELL

SHELBURNE — Eleanor Mary Russell, 90, of Shelburne, Vt., passed away peacefully June 17, 2026, at her home, surrounded by her loving family.

Eleanor (Ellie) was born in Springfield, Mass., Dec. 1, 1935, the daughter of William A. Russell and Elvie Need Russell. She was raised in New Haven, Conn., where she attended Woodward Elementary School and excelled at Hamden Hall Country Day School. She went on to Colby Sawyer College in New London, N.H., graduating in 1956 with a B.S. in Medical Technology. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, she was active in academics, athletics, and campus life. Following graduation, she completed an internship at Malden Hospital in Massachusetts.

Ellie began her professional career at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif. She returned east to work at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston for five years before moving to Burlington, Vt., in 1962, where she joined Fletcher Allen Health Center (now part of the University of Vermont Health Network).

In 1964, she received a grant to study medical technology in Egypt and evaluate laboratory quality in Damascus, Syria. She earned a master’s degree from the University of Vermont in 1976 and rose to become Administrative Director of the Hospital Laboratories and Chairperson of the Medical Technology Department at UVM, while also serving as an Assistant Professor. Known for her intelligence, logic, and problem-solving skills, she was a respected leader until her retirement in 1992.

In retirement, Ellie briefly studied art at the University of Wisconsin before returning to Vermont. She settled in Charlotte, where she became deeply involved in town affairs, serving on the Planning Commission and for five years on the selectboard (two as chairperson). She was a strong advocate for preserving Charlotte’s rural character, protecting local farms, ensuring fair housing, and supporting the community’s economic and cultural future.

In 2018, she moved to Wake Robin in Shelburne, remaining active in artistic, musical, and social activities. She was particularly dedicated to the Wall Art Committee, helping select and display hundreds of artworks across the campus.

Ellie was a woman of many passions. She volunteered with organizations including the Lake Champlain Land Trust, Green Mountain Audubon Society, Thorp Barn Preservation Society, American Cancer Society Road to Recovery Program, Charlotte News, and Milwaukee Zoo. An accomplished artist, she especially loved watercolor painting; her works were exhibited locally and cherished by family and friends. She also enjoyed birding, gardening, skiing, sailing, biking, reading, and international travel. She treasured time at her rustic camp on Lake Champlain in Milton.

Eleanor is survived by her sister-in-law, cousins, nieces, nephews, and many great-nieces and nephews, along with lifelong and community friends who were dear to her. She was predeceased by her parents, brother Kenneth H. Russell, sister Wilma (Russell) Merrill and brother-in-law Gary Merrill, nephew Christopher Merrill, and niece Jennifer (Merrill) Tringali.

A celebration of life will be held at the Charlotte Senior Center, 212 Ferry Road, Charlotte, Vt., on Saturday, July 11, from 2-6 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Please RSVP to Barbara at 978-460-1752.

Eleanor’s upstanding character, achievements, independence, volunteerism, kindness, and humor left a lasting legacy. She will be deeply missed by all who knew her.◊