Robert Allen Russell, 79 of Monterey, California passed away on September 14, 2014. He was born in Ulysses, Kansas on April 13, 1935. He came to the Monterey Peninsula at the age of 7 and attended schools in Monterey. He went to work for PG & E at the early age of 16 installing telephone poles and electrical lines from the Big Sur Park into the canyons 15 miles south. He could only work at this job for a short period of time due to his age. He then went to work with his step-father, Bill Russell who was a general contractor, building homes on the Monterey Peninsula until he went to work for Peninsula Auto Parts as a machinist and as a result of his knowledge and expertise was offered a job with Del Monte Properties. It was during that time he discovered his passion for scuba diving. He was a member of the Sunfish Dive Club, Seven Seas Dive Club and he was one of the first members of the City of Pacific Grove Marine Rescue Patrol. As a result of this passion for diving he went to The Coastal School for Deep Sea Diving in Oakland, California, completing the 11 and a half week course he graduated learning techniques of underwater welding and burning, rigging, demolition and use of explosives in marine and salvage work in classrooms of 12 to 30 feet of water. He went to work for Dulam International located in Dubai as an independent contractor laying oil pipelines which led him to a future and career with Oceanic Contractors, McDermott, Inc. Middle East Diving, wherein his career took him to United Arab Emirates, Dubai, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, West Africa, Egypt, the North Sea and many more places of adventure working on offshore lay barges at times at a depth of 300 feet laying and repairing oil pipelines. He was also sent to England where he graduated from medical training to assist the divers in the decompression chamber, as there were no doctors aboard the barges. Several years later the company, impressed with his skills, promoted him to be one of two Superintendents throughout the middle-east overseeing the work to be completed in laying pipelines. He retired from his career in 1982 but did not stay idle. He worked briefly for Cypress Plumbing, he was always helping someone in need, and especially the elderly in the neighborhood, no job was too big to tackle, he was happy to help. He remodeled his home with the aid and assistance of the “Gang” at “Bob’s Bar”. He enjoyed reading, fishing, poker, working on jigsaw puzzles, Pawn Stars, The History Channel, the 49ers and working on cars especially his ’57 Thunderbird.
He was predeceased in death by his mother Viola Russell and his first wife Dorothy “Cookie” Perez.
He is survived by his loving wife Marie, sons John and Bobby (Michelle); his grandchildren Susan Russell Duke, John, Jr. Joseph (Leah), Michael Russell Spataro, Brooke and Olivia; his great grandchildren Kayla, Zack, Naleahana, Ryan, Haely and Azaleah; his sister-in-law Paula Bertolino, niece Cesca Dentice, Brother in law Raymond (Benchawan) Bertolino; as well as, his extended family, Aaron (Niki) Maxwell and sons Aaron, Jr. and Sammy.
The family would like to extend there sincere gratitude to Dr. Jeffrey Rice and staff; Dr. Pir Shah and staff; Dr. Lane Verlenden and staff; Dr. Terrance Moran and staff, as well as the Staff of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Center; Dr. Jason Lee and staff of Stanford and Dr. Medawar for their expert care of Bob.
Please join the family for a Celebration of Bob’s Life from 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 12th at “Bob’s Bar” located at 332 Ramona Avenue, Monterey.
Arrangements under the direction of The Paul Mortuary, Pacific Grove, CA.
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