Savage, Jr., Russell E.

Russell E. Savage, Jr.

December 10, 1947 — August 28, 2020

Russell Eugene Savage, Jr. died suddenly and unexpectedly on Friday, Aug. 28. He was 72.

From the day Russ was born on Dec. 10, 1947, in Akron, Ohio, he paved a path of greatness in his professional life, in serving his country and in fatherhood. He was a well-rounded, self-made man who loved his family more than anything.

So varied and voluminous was the life he lived that, even weeks before his death, Russ would share stories that Susan, his wife of 33 years, hadn’t heard. Did you hear about how he used to block for the future NFL Hall of Famer Larry Csonka in high school? Or how, after his service as a U.S. Marine Corps Intelligence 1st Sergeant in the Vietnam War, he drove across the country on a motorcycle — and survived a bad wreck?

Russ didn’t share much about his experience in the war — except that he fought in the battles in Hue and Khe Sanh — but he was a proud Marine until the end, often wearing his old USMC sweatpants when lounging around the house watching his favorite Cleveland sports teams or off-the-beaten path movie. More recently he was a proud supporter of the Marines’ Memorial Club in San Francisco, his favorite city in the world.

He is survived by Susan Wingertsahn-Savage, his best friend and perfect match; his daughter, Megan Savage Knox, the only other woman he loved unconditionally and to whom “how you doin’, darlin’?” will always ring in her ears; and his son, Jake “Jakester” Savage, who matched Russ’s interest in dive bars (especially Arnold’s) and who carries Russ’s legacy of charm, intellect and adventure.

Russ was preceded in death by his father, Russell Savage Sr., mother, Dorothy Savage, and father-in-law Richard Wingertsahn.

Additional survivors include his sister, Janet McCrink; son-in-law, Tom Knox; mother-in-law, Patricia Wingertsahn; brother-in-law, Richard Wingertsahn (Carol); brother-in-law, Jerry Wingertsahn; niece Paula Wingertsahn; and nephews R.J. (Elyssa) and Ted (Jessica) Wingertsahn.