Addison T. Russell

Addison T. Russell, 77, beloved husband, father, grandfather and brother, died Tuesday, September 4, 2012. He was born in Rutland, Vermont, January 6, 1935, the son of Lawrence Sumner Russell and Eunice Kendall Blanchard Russell. He grew up in Springfield, Vermont where he played varsity baseball starting in his sophomore year of high school (good field, no hit).
He graduated from SHS in 1953, and from the University of Vermont in 1958 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. Upon graduation he achieved the highest grade in his class on the Professional Engineer Exam, and has remained registered in the state of Vermont (among other states) throughout his working career.
- Following graduation, Addison was employed by the Westinghouse-Bettis Atomic Power Group in Pittsburgh, PA and assigned to their Naval Reactors department in Idaho Falls on the prototype for the nation's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, the Enterprise. He participated in the first successful demonstration of two reactors powering one secondary (one engine room) which subsequently drove one screw (propeller). As this was back in the days of mandatory military draft, Addison qualified for the three-month Critical Skills Program and chose the U.S. Coast Guard for a relatively short stay of duty. Following his work on the prototype, he worked for Phillips Petroleum Atomic Energy Division in nuclear reactor safety research on the SPERT (Special Power Excursion Reactor Tests) and LOFT (Loss-of-Fluid Tests) programs, each located at the National Reactor Testing Station in the desert near Idaho Falls. It was here on the bus to the test site where he met his future wife, Judy. The wedding in June of 1964 was followed by a sunburned honeymoon in Hawaii.
- In 1970 Addison and Judy, w/ two young children in tow, next ventured to Virginia, where he was employed by Babcock and Wilcox as a service engineer in commercial applications of nuclear power. His first reactor start-up assignment was at the three-unit 2700 MWt Oconee station near Seneca, SC. A third child was born there. Several other start-ups followed in Arkansas, Florida, California, and Pennsylvania. Needless to say, the U-Haul truck was never very far away. The children survived all the moves, however, and all graduated miraculously from the same high school (and same college) in VA.
- After retirement from B&W in 1994, the traveling pair headed back out west and found a home in rural Darby, Montana. Here a classic 1960 Buick Invicta convertible was maintained in like new condition. Memories of younger days persisted as he owned a brand new one (black w/ red upholstery, and white top), the sharpest outfit ever to grace the streets of Idaho Falls.

- Surviving Addison are his lovely wife Judy; three children, Cynthia (Bob) of Roanoke, VA; Mike (Angela) of Peachtree City, GA, and Jocelyn (Andrew) of Warrenton, VA; nine grandsons - Austin and Tyler of Peachtree City; Ian, Stevie, Pauli, Nate, Timothy, Kevin, and Will, all of Warrenton; and two granddaughters, Molly and Rita, also of Warrenton; a sister Samantha of Rutland, VT, two nephews and five nieces.
- He was preceded in death by his parents and younger (near twin) brother Bud, in addition to the cherished family Dalmatian dog, Sumner.
- In accordance with his wishes, his remains will be cremated and buried in Montpelier, Idaho. Condolences may be sent via email to addisondarby@aol.com.