This page is dedicated to brothers that have left us but not left our hearts.

Russell Carpenter Crandall, 54, treasured father, husband, brother, and teacher, passed away peacefully on February 20, 2026 after a prolonged illness.

Russell was born on Dec. 7, 1971 in San Mateo, CA to the late Janet F. Crandall and William W. Crandall. Preceded in death by his oldest brother Bill, he is survived by his wife, Britta; his sons, Nolan, Dane, and Eliot; his brothers Robert and John; and umpteen loving nephews and nieces.

Russell grew up in San Mateo, California. He craved adventure from a young age, fostered by his family’s relocation to Australia for two years when he was in elementary school. He chose to attend college in Maine – about the furthest point from his hometown, and graduated from Bowdoin College in 1994 with a degree in Government and Latin American Studies. He continued to get his master’s and PhD from Johns Hopkins, SAIS (School of Advanced International Studies). It was there where he met Britta, a fellow graduate student, whom he married in 2002.

Russell loved politics and was an insatiable reader of all things related to US foreign policy and global political history. His scholarly work focused on Latin America, and he authored or co-authored nine books covering US policy toward the region. His interest in and love for Latin America began in earnest after spending a year in Honduras working as a first-grade teacher after college. It continued through multiple iterations living and working in South America, including stints in Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. Russ adored Peruvian ceviche, Mexican tortas, any type of pupusa, and made a point of always finding the local ‘vampiro’ – beet and carrot juice best procured from any outdoor market. Russell was also an avid fan of Latin American authors, revealed by his home library with entire shelves dedicated solely to Mario Vargas Llosa and Gabriel García Márquez.

Russell was a runner and loved the outdoors. He ran cross country in high school and college and continued to run competitively well into his 40s. His favorite place to run was in McKenzie Bridge, Oregon, where he spent the bulk of his summers writing and spending time with family. For Russell, being in proximity to the river, biking and hiking trails, and old growth forests was heaven on earth.

He found his calling as a teacher and began his dream job as a college professor at Davidson College when he was 28 years old. Russell twice received teaching awards, and he had the opportunity to take three years of absence from teaching in order to pursue public service. During these leaves, he worked in the National Security Council and the Department of Defense. He always felt grateful for these experiences, to be able to bring policymaking to life in the classroom.

Russell was happiest living simply. He owned just two shirts and one pair of shoes when he first met Britta, preferred to put on another layer rather than ever turn up the heat, always chose homemade soup over fancy meals, and would have opted for a tent over a hotel any day. He loved watching professional sports, but his fiercest and longest-standing loyalty lay with the Davidson College basketball and baseball teams.

Russell loved being a dad. And he found the greatest meaning in sharing his joys with his three sons, whether that was fly-fishing, mountain biking, reading a book in front of the fireplace, or watching endless W.W.II documentaries. He prioritized honor over accomplishments, consistently reminding the boys that integrity is doing the right thing even when no one is watching. But above all, his greatest lesson to his entire family was the manner in which he lived his own life each day, with never faltering optimism and grace.

Russell was deeply loved and will be profoundly missed.

A celebration of Russell’s life will be held on Saturday, March 21 at Davidson College Presbyterian Church at 1 p.m. All are welcome.

In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the Bowdoin Public Service Initiative.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of John Hayes Kinsella, who left this world surrounded by his beloved family on January 11, 2026.

John was born on July 29, 1960 in La Mesa, California to Dorothy Hayes and Captain James J. Kinsella, USN. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982 and went on to a successful career in business and consulting. John was a beacon of light, his shining personality illuminating the lives of all who had the privilege of knowing him. John was a constant source of joy and optimism, rooted in a lifelong practice of daily gratitude.

John’s greatest pride and the center of his life was his family; Trish, his wife of 27 years, his daughter Olivia, and son Jimmy. As a devoted and nurturing husband and father, the family home was filled with friends, music, pets, and most importantly cooking. John will be remembered for his love of bold California Cabernets, stacks of well-loved cookbooks, a trusty Le Creuset pot, and many memorable meals.

A proud and passionate master gardener, John spent many days working in his garden, cultivating local plants to create a habitat for pollinators. The garden is alive with bees, butterflies, and birds and is on the distinguished Rosalyn Carter Butterfly Trail, which fosters a habitat for pollinators, particularly the Monarch Butterfly.

John was instrumental in founding the Petaluma California Community Garden which flourishes to this day. He served on the board of Stone Barns Center for Food and Agriculture in New York’s Hudson Valley. Through his board affiliation with CEFS, an NC State nonprofit focused on sustainable agriculture, John organized the annual Farm to Fork picnic in Charlotte.

John also found joy in fitness, working out for more than 10 years with the F3 group in Davidson, NC. Over the years, John was one of the top fundraisers for Bike MS, where he raised money for research fighting multiple sclerosis, and rode in the annual 100 mile bike race many times. As an Eagle Scout, John was a prominent member of Troop 72 in Cornelius, where he helped many Scouts grow and reach Eagle, including his son, and served as a leader for all.

John leaves behind his siblings: Anne Smith, Joe Kinsella (Susan Siegel), Kate Kinsella (Linda Go), Sally Willis and Patrick Kinsella (Desiree), as well as many nieces and nephews whose lives were touched by his kindness and positivity.

Donations may be made in John’s name to the Robert Preston Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University