Jay Burton Russell ’64 Last Call

CDR Jay B. Russell, USN (Ret.) died peacefully in his sleep on 23 December 2024 in his apartment with his daughter by his side, he was 81. Jay was born in New Jersey on 2 February 1943, to COL George B. Russell, U.S. Army and Dorothy Russell. He was commissioned into the U.S. Navy upon Graduation in 1964 and Married Mary Ann (Lyle) in a June week wedding. Jay attended Flight School in Pensacola and became an E-2 Hawkeye Naval Flight Officer, serving with VAW-120, VAW-124 and VAW-125, earning 1 Air Medal and 2 stars on his Vietnam Service medal. He also served in the VAW Test Directorate at Pax River Naval Air Test Facility, where he lateral transferred to an Aeronautical Engineering Duty Officer working on E-2 Hawkeye radar upgrades. Upon Retiring from the Navy he continued to serve as a Contractor for Lockheed/Martin, working on the AEGIS Radar Combat System program in Moorestown, NJ until his retirement in 2010. Jay was a devoted Husband to Mary Ann for 58 years until her passing in 2022. Jay is survived, by his sister Lynn Lester, son CAPT Scott Russell, ’89, daughter Cindy Russell, and grandson Jacob Russell. A memorial service with Military honors will be held at Albert G. Horton Jr. VA cemetery on 14 February 2025.