Russell A. Schwarzmann, 85, of Marlborough, passed away peacefully on Monday morning, February 27, 2017 at Middlesex Hospital surrounded by the sound of his wife and daughters telling him that they loved him.  Russ was born on February 24, 1932 in Tenafly, New Jersey to George and Gladys Schwarzmann.   He graduated from Lafayette College in Pennsylvania and became a mechanical engineer.  For 37 years Russ worked at Pratt & Whitney Aircraft Company in East Hartford designing airplane engine parts (for which he was granted many patents), right up until the day he retired.  He served our country as a United States Army Reservist and believed that everyone has a civic responsibility to vote and participate in our government and community in some way or another.  He lived what he believed:  served on the Marlborough Board of Education, the Marlborough Planning Commission, volunteered on election day for many years, and was a member of the Christian Education Board at the Marlborough Congregational Church.  He volunteered for years at the Marlborough Senior Center dining hall, offered his time to maintain the landscaping around the building, and will be terribly missed as the Center’s official BINGO caller.  Russ could also often be seen at the Marlborough Town Cemetery pruning the trees, trimming the bushes or generally cleaning up the monuments and lawn in order to insure that it was always a beautiful and serene place.  He was a member of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and believed that everyone, whenever possible, should give back to society.  Russ loved animals and over the years had many dogs, cats, turtles, fish, and rabbits in the house and every day fed the backyard turkeys, fox, raccoons, deer, all birds (but especially hummingbirds), opossums and even the squirrels.

Russ married Violet Hassler on June 21, 1958 after being introduced and set up by his mom, and after a short stint in East Hartford, lived in Marlborough for the last 57 years.  He had the most fun when family was around and enjoyed doing lots of activities with his wife and children (most notably sleigh riding, gardening, camping and baking cookies).  Russ is survived by his wife of 58 years, Violet, and his six daughters:  Valorie (Tom), Kathy, Lisa (Daniel), Kristin (Chuck), Karleen (Jeff) and Karen; 8 grandchildren, Ashley (Andrew), Ryan, Carmen, Tommy, Alan, Petra, Seaghan and Quintin and a new great-grandson, Max; and many nieces and nephews.  Russ is also survived by his sister, Josephine Haight, and was predeceased by both of his parents, his brother, Warren, and his favorite Aunt Eleanor.

A Funeral service will be held Saturday Oct. 14th at 10:30 AM in the Marlborough Congregational Church, followed by entombment in the family mausoleum in Marlboro Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to The Roy B. Pettengill Ambulance Association Inc., P.O. Box 308, Marlborough, Connecticut 06447.  For on-line expressions of sympathy, please visit www.spencerfuneralhomeinc.com.

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