Diamond Ridge resident turns 100
On Jan. 28, John Russell “Russ” Elmore, a resident of Diamond Ridge independent senior living in Troy marked a century of life. For his 100th birthday, Russ’ daughters Susan Elmore and Nancy Elmore Wendlandt held a birthday lunch for the three of them.
Here are some of the highlights from a life story provided by the family: Russ was the eighth of 11 children born to Willard Ray Elmore and Rosa Lewis Elmore and grew up on a small dairy farm that also operated as a summer hotel in South Fallsburg. In fall 1940, Russ enrolled at RPI as an aeronautical engineering student. In World War II he was assigned to an Army ordinance division, heavy maintenance company. Eventually he got to France in January 1945. He repaired tanks, armored vehicles, trucks, canons, rifles, pistols, and optical equipment including gun sights and high-powered binoculars. His unit moved through France, Luxembourg, Belgium, and Germany. He returned home in 1945.
In the fall of 1950, Russ was back at RPI and changed his major to mechanical engineering. In March 1951, Russ and Barbara Degroot were married. After graduation, Russ worked in Syracuse. In 1955, Russ was hired by the the Torrington Company in Connecticut, where he remained until retirement in 1973.
The Elmores raised four children, John, Susan, Nancy, and Sharon (who died in 2001). Barbara died in 2010, after which Russ made one last move to the city of his alma mater.
Russ has enjoyed making large yarn pictures of the houses of his family members, drawing lines on a nylon grid based on photographs, and framing these to present as gifts. His favorite thing is to hop onto his electric jazzy wheelchair a few times a day to zip down the halls and go outside for a breath of fresh air. Even at 100 years of age, Russ stays in regular contact with his children and family via email.