He was a gifted man, determined to give of his talents, and recruit those of others, for Roosevelt Island.

Now, death has taken Robin Russell from us. It has come at a time when his personal mission of a Roosevelt Island stronghold in music was finding its timbre and rhythm in the Island Arts Music School, and at a time when he was envisioning a culturally powerful future in performance spaces on and around the Island.

Robin Russell did what he did with the determined passion and deliberate creative thrust of the artist-entrepreneur he was. He labored at the farthest cultural reaches of our minds, knowing that he was investing in our souls, and he therefore did so generously. For years, he sought ways to stage concerts in the River Music series he founded, even while knowing that there was not yet a strong boxoffice here for classical performances. Working hand in hand with the beloved Father Joseph Gorman and with the dynamic and community-minded Sister Regina Palamara, he so often made the rafters ring at Good Shepherd, which became our own special Carnegie Hall.

The late Father Joe and Robin had a special secret – a funding angel who would help when a good concert opportunity arose. There were hints, but the anonymous donor’s identity was protected. Even after Fr. Gorman moved on, Robin found ways to subsidize music here. Usually, the difference between the cost and donations at the door came out of Robin’s wallet. Such was his determination.

Bringing music of all kinds to our Island meant Robin had to mount many battles. When The WIRE sponsored a big-band concert in Good Shepherd Plaza on the Fourth of July, 2000, he had to fight Public Safety for parking for 20 musicians. When RIOC made it hard to book Good Shepherd for a concert, he conspired with Sr. Regina to give it a religious license, so that Islanders could use their Community Center without anyone having to waste energy bumping up against a bureaucracy that was dense in too many ways.

Those were the days when the meaning of community had a depth that touched all the houses of our souls – artistic and religious, cultural and creative. Robin Russell carved out a special role for himself and wore that mission proudly on his sleeve. He fought fiercely to bring that gentleness into our lives.

Robin and Rosemarie, his wife, last danced together on a New Year’s Eve at the Manhattan Park Theatre Club, listening to that same July 4 big band. She was ill, and though Robin’s fight for the medical help she needed was fueled by a great love, she would not live out the full year of 2002 that arrived that night. Robin’s love for Rosemary was invested now in their son, Matthew, who often collected admissions for his father’s events at the doors of Good Shepherd Community Center.

In time, Matthew grew to college age – old enough to take on a Main Street WIRE internship in his Bennington freshman year – a relationship that lasted for the prescribed six weeks and ended less than a month before Robin’s passing.

When those who knew them express their shock at Robin’s death, their thoughts then turn immediately to Matthew, who has now lost both his parents at an age too young. He will return to the helpful structure of school, but it is hard to imagine how he will cope with studies after such a pounding at the hands of fate. "You carry the heart and spirit of each of your parents and that will sustain you," a friend wrote to Matthew after his father’s death. Strong as that heart and that spirit are, nature did not mean for us to relinquish our parents’ physical presence so early in life.

There is talk, therefore, of finding ways to carry Robin Russell’s dreams forward. What can we do for Matthew? is being asked. And thoughtful people in the community are asking, too, How will we keep Robin’s school going? How can we keep his music playing?

He was with us, part of our community, just long enough to show us the dreams he carried and to plant those dreams in our souls. That is how Robin Russell will remain with us, sadly missed, but ever present in a melody and harmony that will surely last.

DL