WAKEFIELD — A. Brooks Russell, 84, of Wakefield died Thursday, Jan. 29, at the Kaplan Family Hospice House in Danvers.
Born in Melrose on Feb. 14, 1930, he was the son of the late Clifford and Madge (Millar) Russell.
Mr. Russell was raised in Wakefield and was a graduate of Wakefield High School, Class of 1948. He later attended the Bishop Lee School of Theater and apprenticed as an actor at the New London Barn Playhouse in New Hampshire. He enlisted in the Air Force and served during the Korean War and at Maguire Air Force Base in New Jersey.
He joined the Jerome Cargill Productions in NYC as a director and directed shows across the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Bermuda. Mr. Russell was part owner and producer at the New London Barn Playhouse and had co-produced and directed at the Keene Summer Theater. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degree in theater from Emerson College in Boston, where he served as faculty, assistant to the registrar, director of Special Events and manager of the Cutler Majestic Theater.
Mr. Russell was the brother of Loureen Ramsdell of Wakefield and the late Virginia Purrington and Malcom Russell. He was the brother-in-law of Cheri Russell of Texas. He is also survived by his many nieces and nephews: Wendell Purrington, Lisa Colucci and husband Paul, Stephen Purrington and wife Theresa, Elaine Purrington, Barry Ramsdell, Joyce Carter and husband Steven, Mark Russell, Sandra Rebol and husband Ty, Deborah Russell, Scott Russell, Tracey Russell. Dear friend of Robert Matthews, Larry Lowe, Muriel Holleran, Kenneth Charest and Susan Roberts. He was predeceased by his nephew Dana Purrington.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday in the First Baptist Church, 8 Lafayette St., Wakefield at 12:30 p.m. Visitation will be held at the McDonald Funeral Home, 19 Yale Ave., Wakefield on Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon. Interment will be at Lakeside Cemetery, Wakefield.
