Ronald Russell-Tutty

Ronald Russell –Tutty, age 84, passed away peacefully at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut on January 12. He was born in New Jersey to Edward and Monna (Beery) Russell-Tutty on April 13, 1933. He served in the US Army in the 54th Medical Group at Fort Benning, Georgia and graduated with a BA in English from Alfred University. He earned an MS degree in Communications from Boston University where he was a Lowell Scholar and a Producer-Director at WGBH in Boston.

He also earned a PhD in Radio-TV-Film from University of Kentucky where he was the Manager and Musical Director of WBKY-FM at the University of Kentucky Broadcasting Service and an Assistant Professor in the Radio-TV-Film department as well. He was the Executive Producer of the University of Kentucky Tele-Courses and a Founding Assistant Executive Director of ET (Kentucky Educational Television network). He married the former Nancy Nicholson in 1962. They came to New Canaan High School in 1968 where Ron was the ETV and Humanities Director and taught English at from 1968 until 1998. Ron and Nancy began very quickly to change the lives of their students by introducing them to the humanities: theater, art, opera, literature, television and film. They would often take large groups of 50 or 60 students into New York City to see plays and operas. The Russell-Tuttys ran the theater program at NCHS for many years and due to their influence and example, a number of their former students have gone on to very successful careers in theater, film and television and many others have richer, more meaningful lives.

Ron was an Associate at the Metropolitan Opera in the Education Department at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts where he gave amazing tours for 25 years and he was a talented violinist as well. He is survived by his wife Nancy and his brother Robert.

He touched the lives of all who knew him. A memorial service where friends and former students can celebrate Ron’s life will be held on Saturday April 14th, 2018 from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM in New York City at the Jerry Orbach Theater . For information please e-mail Cathy Russell at [email protected]. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the Metropolitan Opera in Ron’s name.