John Russell

John Douglas Russell was born in Provo, Utah on July 9th, 1931, and died June 24, 2026, in Los Angeles, with family by his side. John is survived by his daughter, Amber Russell Schaeffer, his son-in-law, Luke Stephen Schaeffer, his grandchildren, Chloe Nicole Schaeffer and Stephen John Russell Schaeffer, and his sister, Chyrl Ann Russell.

John’s father, a signalman for Union Pacific Railroad, was transferred to Los Angeles when John was only one. John grew up in East Los Angeles with his dad, Earl LaMont Russell, his mom, Ruth Viola Pyne Russell, and his younger sister, Chyrl. They lived a simple life, with his dad working two jobs at times, and his mom working for the phone company and then at home.

Starting when he was 15, John's summer job was laying railroad ties in East LA during the passenger expansion of the post-war railroad. He graduated from Montebello High School, where he was a highly competitive star tennis player, a car enthusiast and had the unusual aptitude of successfully walking up and down stairs on his hands.

He was the first member of his family to go to college, with his mother having an eighth grade education and his father with a high school education. He started at East LA Community College, where he took pre-med classes, before being drafted into the US Army 1952.

John proudly served his country as a medic and phlebotomist in the Korean War. He did not talk a lot about his war experience, what he saw and the atrocities of the war. He would simply say that war is hell. During his six years in the army, he trained at Fort Ord, spent three weeks at Letterman Hospital in the Presidio, after an accident, and was part of a selected group of soldiers chosen to reopen an army hospital in Fort Huachuca, Arizona. This fort was the main post of the Buffalo Soldiers during WWII and the hospital's reopening came during the Army's transition to an integrated force following the end of military segregation. John was deeply proud to have played a small part in that historic moment, helping reopen a hospital where all soldiers would serve, train, and receive care together.

He graduated from BYU in 1958 and started working in medical equipment sales. He sold defibrillators, EKG machines and intraoperative blood pressure devices in the Bay Area. He then met Nan Lee Russell, a model, and the love of his life for 58 years, who he married in 1964. They moved to Los Angeles and he started in pharmaceutical sales, spending nearly 30 years working for Hoffman-LaRoche. He was very proud of his work and the important medications he introduced to various hospitals in Los Angeles. He won a multitude of national sales awards and made lifelong friendships with doctors he valued for the rest of his life.

John cherished his role as a grandfather. After Amber and her family returned to Los Angeles when the children were young, he and Nan immersed themselves in their grandchildren's lives. They attended school events, sporting events, plays, graduations, and every milestone they possibly could. John treasured every moment he spent with them and played an influential role in shaping their lives, leaving a legacy of love, guidance, and unwavering support.

After his beloved Nan passed away in 2022, John moved in with Amber’s family and became a part of their everyday life. He enjoyed gardening, making granola and watching sports with the family. As his medical issues compounded, life became more difficult. John would not give up the fight though, no matter what medical challenge, procedure, or obstacle was presented to him. Ultimately, his body gave up before his will.

John will be remembered as a dedicated and loving father, father-in-law, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin and friend. He unapologetically never let anyone define him. His infectious and sincere warmth, kindness, friendliness, determination, competitiveness, humor, sensitivity, and the unwavering love for his family and friends will forever be his legacy.