NBA great Bill Russell, who anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 championships in 13 years, died on Sunday with his wife, Jeannine, by his side. He was 88.
“Bill’s wife, Jeannine, and his many friends and family thank you for keeping Bill in your prayers. Perhaps you’ll relive one or two of the golden moments he gave us, or recall his trademark laugh as he delighted in explaining the real story behind how those moments unfolded,” the family statement said.
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“And we hope each of us can find a new way to act or speak up with Bill’s uncompromising, dignified and always constructive commitment to principle. That would be one last, and lasting, win for our beloved.”
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The National Basketball Association (NBA) legend was married to Rose Swisher, his college sweetheart, from 1956 to 1973 and they had three children: daughter Karen Russell and sons William Jr. and Jacob. In 1977, he married Dorothy Anstett, Miss USA of 1968. But, they separated three years later. In 1996, Russell tied the knot with Marilyn Nault and their marriage lasted until her death in 2009. Russell then married Jeannine Russell, who was a competitive golfer. Born on January 31, 1967, Jeannine finished 19th at the Canadian Women Tour in Ontario in 2010. She became the Player of the Year the same year, Fag Wags reported.
Bill shared several photos with Jeannine on social media, most of which showed them enjoying basketball games.
Bill Russell’s daughter Karen is a legal and political analyst who was born on January 20, 1962. She graduated from Harvard Law School and Georgetown University and served as the Development Director for the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights. She has also contributed to the Huffington Post.
Born on November 2, 1957, in Melrose, Massachusetts, William Felton Russell Jr. worked for Cox Trucking for several years. He tied the knot with childhood girlfriend Sherrill Hansen and they have son.
Jacob H. Russell was born on July 6, 1959 and lives in Renton, Washington with his 44-year-old wife Sara Marckx Russell.
