Ruth R. Russell

Ruth R. Russell Ruth R. Russell (age 87, of Chestnut Hill, died Jan. 2, 2021) has been involved in the newspaper business since her teens. Most recently she was CitiLife editor for the Philadelphia Public Record, for which she provided news of the city's cultural life and also wrote a weekly column (2000 to 2009). She still provides stories and photos on occasion. Previously she was LocaLife editor of the Chestnut Hill Local for more than 20 years, with responsibility for news of community activities as well as art, music, theatre, dance, film and restaurants, along with Local Sports, with coverage of local school, college and Water Tower Recreation Center games & sports and local athletes. She was special section editor for the 'Local’. Over the years, Russell has won numerous awards for editorials written and special theme sections edited for the 'Local.' Earlier she was editor of an insurance company employee publication, assistant editor of an insurance industry magazine, freelance writer for a community newspaper and for an apartment house publication, and editor-in-chief of her college and her high school newspapers. She has been involved in civic activities and has served as a board member of Allens Lane Art Center and Northwest (now Neighborhood) Interfaith Movement; on the advisory board of the YWCA of Germantown and the Center in the Park; and as an officer and/or board member of parent organizations at the schools her children attended (John Story Jenks School, Central High School and Philadelphia High School for Girls). A member of the Science & Art Club of Germantown, Russell taught for the Mt. Airy Learning Tree for a number of years and has sung with the Temple University Center City Chorus and the Academy Chorale. Since 1977 she has been a member of the Church of St. Martin-in the-Fields where she serves as a lector, intercessor and intercessor scheduler. Russell has a BS in journalism from Temple University and an MS from the University of Pennsylvania. Her professional affiliation has been the with Association for Women in Communications (AWC). She is married to the Hon. Edward E. Russell, retired judge of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. A resident of Chestnut Hill, she is the mother of four children, Ann J. Russell, Robert J. Russell (Dawn), Mary E. Russell-Poulain (Laurent Poulain), and the late Edward E. Russell, Jr. and has four grandchildren, Stephen & Christopher Russell and David & Madeleine Poulain.