Help Us Celebrate Ben's Impact on Our Lives

Ben Russell was the kind of person whose presence instantly made a difference. He had this calm, quiet strength that could ease any situation, no matter how chaotic or tense. It was as if, no matter what life threw at him, Ben believed that everything would work out if you just gave it time and handled it with care.

I always admired that about him. In a world that often rushes forward, Ben never hurried. He was deliberate, thoughtful, and always present. If you were talking to him, it felt like you were the only person in the world. He listened and his responses were never rushed. He would take a moment to think before offering advice, and when he did, it was almost always the right thing, something so simple yet helpful that you wondered why you hadn’t thought of it yourself.

His patience wasn’t just in the way he interacted with people but also in how he lived his life. Ben had this ability to see the long game, to understand that good things take time and effort. Whether it was building relationships or working on a project, he never looked for shortcuts. He taught me that sometimes the best thing you can do is take a step back, breathe, and let things unfold naturally.

It’s hard to believe he’s gone. He passed away too young, leaving a gap in the lives of everyone who knew him. There’s a part of me that still expects to see him log into a meeting, that calm smile on his face, ready to offer a word of encouragement or share a quick joke before we get down to business. He was one of those rare people who didn’t need to say much to leave a lasting impact. Just being around him made you feel at ease, like everything was going to be okay.

We didn’t know each other as long as I would have liked, but in the time I did know him, Ben taught me lessons that will stay with me forever. He had this way of influencing people, of making them want to be better, more patient, more understanding, just by being who he was. I know I’m not the only one who feels that way. Everyone who crossed paths with him feels the weight of his absence, but also the warmth of his memory.

Ben Russell will be remembered by all of us who were lucky enough to know him. His legacy of patience, kindness, and quiet wisdom lives on in the many lives he touched. Though he’s gone, I still carry the lessons he taught me, lessons that I only wish I had learned sooner, but ones I am so grateful to have received.

All donations are to support Ben's wife Andrea and their children through this tough time.