George E. Russell

A lifetime of art, education and philanthropy: Abstract artist, alum and former Concordia professor George Russell, who recently passed away, received belated recognition while supporting the Arthritis Society "George Russell, MA (art ed.) 70, died at his home in Laval, Que., on May 8, 2016. He was 83. Shortly before his passing, Russell spoke to Concordia’s Advancement & Alumni Relations News about his career and support for the Arthritis Society.

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A simple strawberry started George Russell, MA (art ed.) 70, down a path not well-trodden in his hometown of Leroy, Sask. “When I was in grade 3, we made our own report cards,” recalled the 83-year-old artist. “We made a picture on the cover and the teacher wrote the marks inside. I chose to draw a strawberry, and it turned out well. That was my beginning as an artist.” As one of Quebec’s most venerated abstract artists and a major benefactor of the Arthritis Society, in the past year Russell received some long-overdue recognition for a life devoted to creativity, art education and support of a worthy cause.