DELRAY BEACH — Morgan Niles Russell, a force to be reckoned with, died Aug. 14 in Trustbridge Hospice. He was 79.
Mr. Russell took pride in the role he played in the development of the city’s Pineapple Grove section and he created a charity that provided college educations to dozens of students.
He was born to Frank M. “Scoop” Russell and Marian Phebe Gale Russell on Jan. 9, 1946, in Washington, D.C. His sibling, Gale Russell Nash, preceded him in death.
Mr. Russell leaves behind the love of his life, wife Brenda Keith Russell; his twins, Vivienne and Wyatt Russell; stepsons Matt Keith of Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Mike (Natalie) Keith of Hobe Sound, and Andrew (Lauren) Keith of Niceville; grandchildren Blakely, Noah, Nori, Bryson, Braelyn, Zack and Zoey Keith; nephews Matt Russell Holberton of New York City and Ted Russell Nash of Denver; and niece Lexi Holberton Wight of Concord, Massachusetts.
Having accomplished many of his professional goals at 65, Mr. Russell then fathered twins, Vivienne and Wyatt.
A few years later, he sought someone to spend the rest of his life with, and shared a first date with Brenda Keith. Hearing that he had children, Brenda asked, “What university do they go to?” Blown away by the answer, “They’re in Pre-K 3,” Brenda flew back to Baton Rouge. “I did not feel we would be a match because I was too old to help raise little ones.”
But Mr. Russell enjoyed his time with the twins, teaching them to swim, play ball, ride bikes and ski. Brenda, coaxed back to Delray Beach, became their stepmom and blended her family with Mr. Russell’s.
Matt Keith said that Mr. Russell “immediately considered me and my brothers as his own family and treated us as such. He had a great sense of humor and kept the entire room laughing out loud.”
Mr. Russell loved the “Village by the Sea,” and purchased a shopping center on the corner of Linton Boulevard and Federal Highway. His next purchase was a shopping center on Northeast Second Avenue. Mr. Russell, in partnership with Scott Porten, created “City Walk.” His true passion would be developing Second Avenue, which eventually became Pineapple Grove.
Ultimately, Mr. Russell sold his holdings and bought a shopping center in Tequesta. When Mr. Russell sold his final center to enjoy life, his health was failing, and he could not fully enjoy retirement. Yet his great sense of humor buoyed him until the end.
Mr. Russell helped many of his tenants and became close with Christina from Christina’s Restaurant, Suzanne from Brulee, Joseph from Joseph’s Restaurant, Tony from Lanzetta’s, and many more tenants. Many others supported him: Dwight Tidwell, Pete Bonitatibus, Mike Simon, Chris Burr, Richard Heinl, Therese, Betty, Sharon, Luanne, James, Ellen, his loving caregiver, and more.
His self-funded charity, Dare2BGreat, put 40 students through college.
Mike Keith recalled, “He was humble, generous, and always put the needs of others above his own.”
Andrew Keith remembered his best life lesson: “We learned never to take life too seriously and to always let the positive come first, and embrace the beauty of life with friends and family.”
Mr. Russell’s life will be celebrated from 1 to 4 p.m. Sept. 7 at Rose’s Daughter, 169 NE Second Ave., Delray Beach.
— Submitted by the family
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