David A. Russell, a kind and loving Renaissance man, lost his battle with cancer on January 9th. He was 63. The son of the late Alfred S. and Barbara O. (Grunzweig) Russell, David was raised in Reading, earned his degrees from Boston College, Northeastern University and Tufts University School of Dental Medicine. He enjoyed a long career in dental medicine as a practitioner, academic and public health leader.
The beloved husband of Sharin (Magol) Russell, he leaves his devoted sisters, Barbara Cleary and her husband Michael, and Alane Tighe and her husband John. He was a loving uncle to Robert Michael Cleary, Emily Caso, Alexandra Tobiasson, Andrew Tighe and Jeffrey Magol. The son-in-law of the late Byram and Adeline Magol, he also leaves his brother and sister-in-law Byron and Marsha Magol. David will be deeply missed by all who knew him.
Dr. Russell was currently Associate Clinical Professor of General Dentistry and was recently promoted to Associate Dean of Admissions at Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine. He received his D.M.D. from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine and his M.P.H. at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Russell was formerly the Associate Clinical Dean and Associate Professor of Prosthodontics and Operative also at Tufts in Boston. Dr. Russell attended a General Practice Residency at Overlook Hospital, a Columbia Presbyterian teaching hospital in Summit, New Jersey. Additionally, Dr. Russell was a Robert Wood Johnson Health Policy Fellow through the Institute of Medicine in Washington D.C. and a past member of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Dentistry. Dr. Russell has held numerous academic roles including Course Director of Oral Diagnosis and Treatment Planning at Tufts as well as being a lecturer in Operative Dentistry and Dental Anatomy. Dr. Russell lectured nationally and internationally on a wide range of dental risk management issues as well.
Dr. Russell’s research interest had been in medication induced xerostomia and he is well published on the topic. Dr. Russell was a member of the American Dental Association; the Massachusetts Dental Society; Fellow of both the American College and International College of Dentists; the Pierre Fauchard Academy; Omicron Kappa Upsilon; the American Dental Education Association; the American Public Health Association; the American Association of Public Health Dentistry; the American Association of Dental Boards and the North East Regional Board of Dental Examiners. Dr. Russell was also a member of the American Association of Dental Consultants.
A celebration of David’s remarkable life will be planned at a time when it is safe for all who knew him to gather.
In lieu of flowers contributions may be made in David’s honor to the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, Office of Development, 10th Floor, 85 East Newton St., Boston, MA 02118.
