Obituary: Russell Fellows, 1944-2023

Russell Fellows passed away on November 9, while delighting in the
beauty of nature and the joy of traveling with good friends on one of
his many motorcycle adventures.

Russell
Miller Fellows was born in Springfield, Vt., in 1944 to Carole
Whittemore Fowler and Edwin Russell Fellows. His strong love of
family and Vermont grew from his small-town roots and his deep
connection to its history. Russell carried on his family’s legacy
of invention and art throughout his life, as a master woodworker,
bowl turner, and fixer of any broken thing.

He
grew with up his sisters, Susan, Jane and Anne, in Springfield and
his Whittemore cousins, Jeff, Tony, Wendy and Todd.

Russell
graduated from the Vermont Academy and Middlebury College and
retained a lifelong, youthful curiosity about the world and people.

Russell
and Bob Coates met 43 years ago. They supported each other’s
pursuits and passions, whether it was Bob’s business or Russell’s
woodworking. Together, they generously offered love and support to
their wide circle of friends and family.

Russ
and Bob happily welcomed their nephew Whitney into their family and
considered Whitney’s children, Brendan and Delia, as grandchildren.
Russell enjoyed their company greatly. Every summer, Uncles Bob and
Russ and Brendan and Delia went on a road trip together.

Russell
and Bob created welcoming homes, where families and friends were
always invited to gather. They remade the family camp on Thorndike
Pond in Jaffrey, N.H., where generations of Fellows, Whittemores and
Coates gathered for fun summer days, wonderful meals and rides in
Uncle Russ’ jet boat.

In
Sarasota, they created an oasis for their many guests and a winter
retreat for Russell, who enjoyed woodworking in his shop with his
many friends. Their friendship with next door neighbors Bernadette
and Lynn made it home.

It
was in Jericho, Vt., where Bob and Russ created a home that brought
peace and warmth to them and to their family and friends. Russ built
the inviting house, and he and Bob filled it with furniture and art
they handcrafted together. The trestle table that Russ built long ago
was well-used by generations of grateful dinner guests. A lineage of
Airedale terriers provided additional love and entertainment.

In
his barn studio, Russell explored his talent for turning bowls, using
tools handed down from his grandfather. He became an award-winning,
master bowl turner and found equal joy in sharing his knowledge with
others. He joined the Vermont Woodchuck Woodturners Association and
hosted weekly gatherings around his lathe in his Skunk Hollow Studio.
He was also a member of the Sarasota Woodturners Association.

Russell
pursued motorcycle riding with a similar focus, passion and skill. As
an expert rider, he explored every road in Vermont and joined tours
to explore the American west, Canada, Europe and Asia, with his good
friends and cousins.

Russell
is survived by Bob Coates; his beloved nephew Whitney Fellows;
Whitney’s children, Brendan and Delia, Jenn Fellows and Tessa
Bussière; nieces Colleen Merrick and Kate Browall; and nephew Joey
Merrick, and his wife, Kelly; and many adored nieces and nephews.

In
honor of a life very well lived, and in lieu of flowers, please
consider a gift to Diversity Sarasota. A gathering will be held in the spring
at Skunk Hollow.

This article appears in The Winter Preview Issue 2023.