In the mid-1960s, shortly after graduating from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo with a degree in farm management, Jack Russ became a member of the Humboldt County Fair’s Junior Livestock Auction committee. At auction time, he manned the scales, weighing the animals that he later bid on. And won. And donated to the St. Vincent de Paul dining facility.

In 1972, he became a member of the board of directors of the Fair, a position from which he retired in 1994, saying that it was time to give someone else a chance to contribute ideas and skills.

Jack, the second son of Annette and Joseph Russ III, attended the Capetown School through the seventh grade, when it closed. The family moved to town, and Jack graduated eighth grade at Ferndale Elementary. He served as student body president during his senior year at Ferndale High, graduating in 1954.

Jack lived by the conviction that his position as a member of the fourth generation of the pioneer ranching and timber Russ family, he had a responsibility to give back to his community through his time and his resources.

The list of his civic involvement is a long one: president of the Humboldt County Cattlemen’s Association, the California Cattlemen’s Association, and the Humboldt County Wool Growers’ Association; chairman of the California Cattlemen’s Association Livestock Memorial Research Fund, vice-chairman of the Tri-State Livestock Credit Corporation, a founding director of Six Rivers National Bank and the Humboldt Conservation District.

He also served on the boards of the California Beef Council, the National Cattlemen’s Association, the Bertha Russ Lytel Foundation, and the Church of the Assumption parish council.

In 1965, Jack married Linda Schwartz, the daughter of Fortuna doctor Charlton Schwartz and his wife Evelyn, and the newlyweds moved to Jack’s ranch house—a cold, drafty house on Copenhagen Road in Loleta. A lifelong rancher, Jack worked on the ranches of his father until his father’s death in 1991. Then, with his brother, Joe, Jack formed Russ Ranch & Timber Co., and leased its properties to his son, nieces and nephew.. 

Jack and Linda’s children, Jay and Sarah, were born during the Loleta years; the children were five and three when the family moved to the farm house on Centerville Road in 1972.

Jack died on Monday, March 19, after a long illness. He was 80 years old. He is survived by his family: his wife, Linda; son, Jay and daughter-in-law, Lindsay; daughter, Sarah, and son-in-law, Wayne Soloaga; and granddaughters, Alexis and Lindsay Soloaga. He also leaves behind his brother, Joe; his sister-in-law, Karen; and their children and grandchildren. Jack will be missed as well by a group of lifetime friends and a grateful community, who cared for the man who was generous, kind and gentle. And who always waved.

A memorial mass will be held at the Church of the Assumption on Saturday, April 21, at 11 a.m. with a reception to follow at Fern Cottage.

The family requests that any memorial contributions be made to the Redwood Memorial Hospital Foundation, 3300 Renner Drive, Fortuna 95540; or the Church of the Assumption Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 1097, Ferndale, 95536.