Benjamin Joseph Russell, O.P., Death, 2014-08-11
![Benjamin Joseph Russell, O.P.](http://archives.opcentral.org/assets/PF/Russell.png)
Scope and Contents
This collection contains personal materials relating to friars after they have left the order, passed away, or transferred to another province. Each friar's file contents are mostly limited to their novitiate records, canonical assignments, historically important correspondence, and a small number of personal items if desired upon their passing. Within the broader collection, each Friar is sorted as a series.
Friars with particuarly substantial historically important papers or items outside of the scope of the Personal Files are placed within a dedicated collection under their name.
This collection is a work in progress and any use of these files requires the explicit permission of the Provincial. Contact the Archivist to discuss access or inquire about friars that may not been cataloged yet.
Dates
- Creation: Death, 2014-08-11
Conditions Governing Access
Requires explicit permission from Provincial to access any records. Contact the Archivist for more information.
Conditions Governing Use
Can only be accessed upon written permission of the Provincial. Contact the Archivist for further details.
Biographical / Historical
Fr. Benjamin J. Russell was born (Joseph Francis Russell) on July 24, 1933, to Joseph Allen Russell and Margaret Catherine (Dunleavy) Russell in Boston, Massachusetts. He had one brother, Thomas Edward Russell. Fr. Russell attended St. Francis de Sales Grammar School in Charlestown, Massachusetts from 1938-47 and Boston College High School graduating in 1951. He then studied at Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa from 1951-53 with the intent to join the Order. He received the Dominican habit on August 30, 1953 and received the religious name, Benjamin. He professed his first vows on August 31,
1954 at St. Peter Martyr Priory in Winona, Minnesota and final vows on August 31, 1957 at St. Thomas Aquinas Priory in River Forest, Illinoi s. Fr. Russell continued his studies at the Dominican House of Studies in River Forest, Illinois then later at Aquinas Institute of Theology at St. Rose Priory in Dubuque, Iowa where he was ordained to the priesthood on June 4, 1960.
Fenwick High School in Oak Park, Illinois was his first ministry assignment where he taught Theology and English from 1961-64. In advanced studies he earned an MA in English Literature and Ph.D. in Philosophy from Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois. Fr. Russell served on the faculty of Aquinas Institute from 1964-70 and was Master of students during some of these years. He was then assigned to pastoral ministry as the pastor of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Madison, Wisconsin from 1971-77. He then joined the faculty of Religious Studies at Edgewood College in Madison from 1977-85. He returned to teach at Aquinas Institute and served as the Academic Dean from 1985-90. From 1990-96 he returned to pastoral ministry and was pastor at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest, Illinois. Fr. Russell then worked in the Office of Mission of Advancement for the province from 1997-2001. For the following five years he was on limited service, living in Madison, Wisconsin, St. Louis, Missouri and eventually, St. Pius V Priory in Chicago. In 2011 he was asked to join the community at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Center at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana, which was where he was living at the time of his death.
Fr. Russell came to Chicago to preach the funeral of his classmate, Fr. Bede Jagoe, on August 9, 2014 in Chicago. He was to return home to West Lafayette, Indiana on August 11, 2014. Early that morning he collapsed and suffered a severe heart attack. He was taken to the hospital where he died later that afternoon on August 11, 2014. He was eighty-one years old. Office of the Dead and Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated with Fr. James Marchionda preaching at St. Vincent Ferrer Parish in River Forest, Illinois on August 16, 2014. Burial was held at All Saints Cemetery in Des Plaines, Illinois.
Extent
From the Collection: 1 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
From the Collection: Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Archives of the Province of St. Albert the Great, U.S.A. Repository
1910 S. Ashland Ave
Chicago Illinois 60608 United States
3122430011
archivist@opcentral.org