Russell H. Dr. Dobelstein

Dr. Russell H. Dobelstein, 82, of Charlestown, RI, son of Edward & Bertha (Pekrul) Dobelstein, brother to Dorothy (Dobelstein) Schweitzer, Robert Dobelstein, and Raymond Dobelstein, passed away peacefully in his home while watching college football on Saturday, November 28th. Russ lived a very full life with many challenges and many rewards. He is the youngest player in the history of football (he was 16 years of age) to have played in the Rose Bowl for the University of Tennessee in 1945 along with his “All American” brother Bob. After his first year at UT he was recruited by Coach Herman Hickman at West Point to attend the Academy and play football. Russ played in the “Game of the Century” with West Point against Notre Dame in 1946 ending in a tie score of 0-0. In the spring of 1947 Russ and his high school sweetheart, Emily Millicent Porter, decided that love was the most important element in life and were married. Russ resigned from West Point and returned to his beloved UT for the remainder of his college career earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering. He began honing his leadership and coaching skills under the tutelage of General Neyland at UT with the Freshman Team of 1948. From Knoxville, Russ & Mill returned to their hometown of Bridgeport, CT where Russ began working at General Electric, and their family continued to grow. In 1952 Russ made the move into what would be one of his lifelong loves, Teaching. He went to Bullard Havens Technical School to teach Math and develop a football team and his career took off. In 1954 Russ and Mill bought their family home in Trumbull, CT. In 1957 Russ received his Master’s Degree in Mathematical Education from Fairfield University and took his next career step to Andrew Ward High School in Fairfield, CT where he coached Andrew Ward to its state football championship. He eventually went on to Joel Barlow High School in Redding, CT as Math Department Chairman, and then onto Ellington High School in Ellington, CT, culminating his career in receiving the State of CT Teacher of the Year award. During all of this, time he had been a Matriculating Student in the Doctorate Program at University Of Connecticut and was awarded his PHD in 1977. There were many loves in Russ’s life, his wife, his family, his faith, his calling to educate, and football. He was very active in his church of Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Trumbull, CT and was the President of the Church Council when the Corner Stone was laid. He was a Scout for University of Tennessee in New England. He was a football coach and referee. He was a member of the Connecticut Football Coaches Assn and served on its council. While serving on the council they developed the Fairfield County Summer Football game for graduating seniors that has now developed into the Connecticut All Star Game. He taught college courses at University of Bridgeport, he tutored at the Fairfield Tutoring Center. He served on the Leader Group for “ATOMIC “and became President of the Board. He was a member of the “NESCA – New England Associate of Schools and Colleges” and the “Associated Teachers of Mathematics in Connecticut”. He received several grants through Wesleyan University to develop and teach workshops for Math teachers in the State of Connecticut. Working with Dr. Robert Rosenbaum these studies led to the development of “PIMMS-Program to Increase the Study of Mathematics & Science in Connecticut”. Retirement came for Russ & Mill in 1987 when they moved to their summer home in Charlestown, RI where they have spent their wonderful “golden years”. Through these years Russ remained active in discovering new loves. Golf being one of them, and he was as competitive on the golf course as he had been in any football game. Garden railroads were another love and he developed a huge village in his back yard. Christmas lights during the Holiday Season became a tradition for many years for Russ and Mill putting up as many as 20,000 lights and winning first prize by the Charlestown Chamber of Commerce in 1991. Russ was a bighearted man and leaves his beloved wife of 62 years, Emily Millicent “Mill”, his son & daughter-in-law, Ronald Dobelstein, Esq. & Claudia of Alpharetta, GA. His two daughters and son-in-laws, Karen & Craig Thompson of Charlestown, RI, and Debra & Vaughn “Sandy” Ballard of Charlestown, RI and Mesa, AZ. His Grandchildren, Meridith, Josh, Melanie, Derek, and Michelle. His Great Grandchildren, Justin, Lucy, Kendyl, and Jase. As Russ loved to say, “ I thank you, my wife thanks you, my children thank you, my grandchildren thank you, and my GREAT grandchildren thank you”. A Memorial Service will be held at St. Andrew Lutheran Church, 15 East Beach Road, Charlestown, RI, on Thursday, December 3rd at 5:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, a donation to St. Andrew Lutheran Church (at the above address) would be appreciated.