Russell Clark Soule

Russell Clark Soule, (03/31/1954 - 11/27/2025) Russell was born March 31, 1954 in Portland, Maine to Russell Franklin Soule and Marion Higgins Soule. Russell was the second of three children, his older brother Gary and his younger sister, Cheryl. The stories of his adventures growing up in Portland are many. Russell was an accomplished swimmer and was inducted into the Maine Swimming and Diving Hall of Fame in 2008 for his accomplishments in AAU and Maine High School swimming. Russ graduated from Portland High School, received his Associates degree from University of Southern Maine, BS from Northeastern University, and his MBA from Fitchburg State. It was at the age of 17 he met the love of his life, Helen (née Lawler) while swimming with the Portland Seals Swim Team. On July 9, 1977 Russell and Helen were married, followed by the birth of their son, Daniel, in 1983 and the birth of their daughter, Marguerite, in 1985. Russell and family had relocated from Maine to Virginia, to North Dakota, South Dakota and then settled for some time in Pepperell, Massachusetts where lifelong friends were made. While in Pepperell, Russell decided to go back to school for his MBA. During that time he took on the role of stay at home dad and logged an exorbitant number of miles driving his children, their friends and teammates around. He would continue to serve as pro bono taxi driver for his children and their friends well into adulthood, so that no matter the hour everyone arrived safely home that night. Ultimately Russell and Helen returned to Portland, Maine where they stayed until taking up a semi-nomadic existence so that they could spend time with their grandchildren in New York and Maine. They were determined to make as many games, parties and special events as possible. This continued until Russell passed on November 27, 2025. There are more dates and accomplishments that could be listed, but those did not define him. What he was most proud of and what defined him was his love for family and friends. He felt fortunate to have met and married his soul mate in Helen, even more so to start a family with her. Helen came from a large family and Russell loved her parents, Edward and Helen, her sisters, Deborah, Susan, Marguerite, Eileen, and her brother, Edward, as his own. Russel delighted in the additions to his family with each niece and nephew, and his grandchildren. Russell had become Bumpa to his grandchildren: Joshua, Josephine, Liyana, Leon and Lorenza. It was his large heart and kind, gentle nature that drew people and animals to him, and it was his loyalty, honesty and dependability that forged lifelong bonds. Russell was always honest and tried to be fair at all times, he would never act with malice or cruelty, and would unerringly try to do what was right. He had an open heart and mind, with the rare quality of being able to admit error and change his mind. He was a dedicated and loving husband and father, a trusted friend and advisor, and if you were someone he loved, he wasted no opportunity to show or tell you. He was a Picasso of profanity, a lover of puns and dad jokes, capable of impressive bluster but always there with a kind word or big bear hug when needed. He will be sorely missed. Russell was predeceased by his father, Russell Franklin Soule; his mother, Marion Higgins Soule; his older brother, Gary Soule, and his younger sister, Cheryl Crawford (née Soule). Russell is survived by his wife and partner, Helen Soule, his son and daughter in law, Daniel and Rachel Soule, and their children, Joshua and Josephine ; his daughter and son in law, Marguerite and Dylan Leddy, and their children, Liyana, Leon, and Lorenza; His sisters and brothers in law Sharon, Mark, Deborah, Susan, Michael, Marguerite, Robert, Eileen, Douglas, Edward and Vivienne; and his nieces and nephews, Jill, Jennifer, Andrew, Maura, Joseph, Hannah, Rachel, Leah, Lillian, Genevieve, Aidan and William. Russell would not wish for sadness, but would have preferred a funny story or an important memory be shared, and to remember how much he loved them.

Russell Clark Soule

March 31, 1954 - November 27, 2025