Retired Provincial Court Judge and Former MP Born in Westville on May 8, 1925, he was the son of the late Thomas and Jessie (Cameron) MacEwan. He was very proud of his family’s coal mining heritage, having descended from several generations of coal miners and he never lost touch with his beloved home town of Westville. Russell attended Westville schools and graduated from high school in Springhill in 1941 where his father worked as an underground mine manager. He attended Mount Allison University and was a member of the Football and Track teams, and served as Student Council President in his final year, graduating in 1945. His summer breaks included work in the Drummond Coal Mine and with a paving crew with Warren paving. Russell graduated from Dalhousie Law School in 1948 and was a member of the Maritime champion Dalhousie Rugby Team. He practiced law from 1948 – 1963 with Hugh J. MacDonnell in New Glasgow and served as a Captain with the 1st Battalion, Nova Scotia Highlanders (North). He was first elected as a Member of Parliament in 1957 and was re-elected five times thereafter in 1958, 1962, 1963 and 1965 in the riding of Pictou and, finally in 1968 in the then newly redistributed riding of Central Nova. He served until 1971 and was a member of several House of Commons committees, including Justice and Legal Affairs, Armed Services, Veterans Affairs and Labour. He was Labour critic during his final term as a member. He was appointed a Judge of the Provincial Court in 1971, presiding in Amherst until 1977 and in New Glasgow until his retirement in 1991. He served in a part-time capacity until 1997. Russell was a member of the Westville rotary Club, Western Star Lodge No. 5, A.M. & F. M., New Glasgow City Club and Trinity United Church, New Glasgow. Surviving are sons, Colin, Roy’s Island; Scott (Hallee), Little Harbour; James (Patsy), Corpus Christi, Texas; sister, Ann Walters, New Glasgow; grandchildren, Matthew, Courtney and Jenna, Little Harbour; Amy and Chris, Corpus Christi; niece, Joann, Pickering, Ont.; nephew, Kevin, Toronto. He was predeceased by his first wife, Joan (MacDonald); second wife, Betty MacNeil. There will be no visitation by request. Funeral service will be held 11 a.m. Saturday, July 5, 2008 in Trinity United Church, New Glasgow with Ms. Lori Crocker, Diaconal Minister officiating, immediately followed by a reception in the Multi-purpose room. Private interment will be in Heatherdale Memorial Gardens. Family flowers only. Donations may be made in his memory to the Canadian Cancer Society or The Salvation Army.