OBITUARY: Russell C. Kneeland, Sr.
Russell C. Kneeland, Sr. passed away in the early morning hours of Friday, May 4, 2014 peacefully, in his sleep at Greenbriar Nursing home in Nashua, NH. He was 80 years old. He was married to Beverly (Carey) Kneeland of Nashua, with whom he would have celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary in August.
He was born in Haverhill on July 14, 1933, the son of the late Foster and Ethel Mae (Beal) Kneeland. He lived in Quincy for 14 years and Roxbury for five years before graduating Quincy High in 1951. He joined the Navy in 1952 and served on the USS Champlain during the Korean War, discharging in 1956. He married Marylou (Murray) Kneeland in 1956 (his former wife). Russell obtained his Bachelor's degree in Engineering and Management from Northeastern University in 1964 and his MBA in Marketing in Finance from Babson College in 1970.
By 1972 he was the father of nine children, moving to Groton in 1963, having built a new home. He said his children were his greatest achievement. He was employed with Honeywell Corp. in Billerica and Waltham until his retirement in 1986. He also worked for Sylvania and his father-in-law's business, the P.E. Murray Funeral home in West Roxbury.
He had a heart attack in 1981 and quintuple-bypass heart surgery in '85. He exceeded the medical life-expectancy, living productively for 29 years after surgery, quoting often that he was "living on borrowed time." Whenever he was presented with personal and medical challenges, with the loving care and strength of his family, he persevered. He was a member of the Tyngsboro Evangelical Congregational Church, serving as a deacon for many years. He said,
"My life was my father's life and I'd like it to be known to my friends and family upon my death." His father, Foster, was a 'motivator, rescuer, teacher, a life-long professor' who also said 'each bump in the road has a purpose.' They both had a heart for the youngest, and those that seemed to be in a little trouble. Foster worked with the Boys Club in Roxbury. Russell followed his father's legacy by serving on the NVTHS school board for two years, as an Inner-city youth summer host, Little League coach, Cub Scout Master and elementary school pen pal. In his notes for his epitaph, Russell listed in order: Christ, children, freedom, love of life, earn respect, remember parents, education always.
He is the father of Kathleen Crock of Bedford, VA; Caroline Kneeland of Groton; Colette Kneeland of Stem, NC, Russell C. Kneeland, Jr. of Groton, Rhonda Buck of Tyngsboro; Celeste Versoi of Stow; Robert Kneeland of MD; Radley Kneeland of Groton; grandfather of 20, great-grandfather of eight; brother of Foster Kneeland of Boynton Beach, FL; Florence McNeilly of Sandwich; stepfather of Stephen Carey of Attleboro; Janet Hartford of Pelham, NH; Bruce Carey of San Antonio, TX; and JoAnne Doherty of Beverly; 11 step-grandchildren. He was predeceased by his former wife Marylou Kneeland, son, Ryne Kneeland, brother, Donald Kneeland, and step-brother, Ronald St. Pierre.
A funeral service will be Friday at 11 a.m. at the Evangelical Congregational Church on Kendall Road, Tyngsboro. Burial in Groton Cemetery. For those that wish, memorials may be made in his name to the Kneeland Family Scholarship Trust, c/o Tyngsboro Evangelical Congregational Church, P.O. Box 70, Tyngsboro, MA 01879. Arrangements by Dolan Funeral Home, 978-251-4041. Please see guestbook: www.dolanfuneralhome.com.
