Pamela Peterson Russell

November 11, 1945 - November 16, 2018

On November 16, 2018, Pamela Peterson Russell passed away in her San Francisco home next to her devoted husband of 36 years, Kent Alan Russell. Vivacious, witty, greeneyed, and biceped, Pamela adored her three children: son Kane and twin daughters Blaire and Chandra. She was the daughter of Dick Peterson and Ki Morris, sister of Robyn, Debbie, and Dirk, and mother-in-law of Ally, Arvind, and Abraham. Pamela lives on as “Mimi” in the hearts of her four grandsons: Hayes, Tristan, Grady, and Abie.

Pamela graduated from Colorado College with a BA in English and a minor in skiing. She also earned a Master’s in English from San Francisco State, a Juris Doctorate from U.C. Hastings, and an (unconfirmed) Ph.D. in Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness.

Pamela was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, where she developed her love of skiing, hatred for cold weather, and invisibility to mosquitoes. Her barefoot summers at Round Lake ingrained a boundless energy, fearless self-confidence, and deep connection to the outdoors.

Exuding her dad’s zest for adventure, Pamela traveled the world after college, paying her way as a translator and editor for local newspapers. A year in Rome gave her a passion for home-cooked pasta, candle-lit dinners, and wine. After stints in Belize and Turkey, she landed in Aspen, Colorado where she skied by day and reveled with fellow skiers by night.

Pamela’s intellectual curiosity relocated her one final time to San Francisco. There she earned her Master’s in English, studying Hemingway under Professor Robin Gajdusek. Residing in North Beach, she kept the lights on and her outfits chic by opening a lingerie boutique, the Garter of Eden.

Always ready for her next challenge, Pamela enrolled in law school. Her second year, she answered a bulletin board posting seeking waitresses for a law firm party hosted by Melvin Belli protege Kent Russell. It was love at first sight.

In less than two years, Pamela and Kent married in Mexico, had three kids, and moved into a Pacific Heights Victorian. Pamela adorned the home with eclectic artwork from the couple’s travels and relished triweekly runs at nearby Crissy Field. Together, the couple founded Russell & Russell, where Pamela handled all business and financial affairs for the law practice. At the same time, she made several San Francisco real estate investments and attended regular classes at the Fromm Institute for Lifelong Learning.

Of course, none of these achievements mattered when compared to Pamela’s true passion: motherhood. She poured her heart and soul into her three kids— whether driving 4,000 miles each summer to give them the TV-free Round Lake experience that had so inspired her own life and dreams, or leading all three down sparkling Tahoe ski slopes behind her graceful slalom.

Pamela’s loved ones will forever remember and celebrate her indelible strength, daring style, fierce will, and raucous, reverberating laugh.

Pamela’s Memorial Service will be held on December 1, 2018 at 3 p.m. at Swedenborgian Church in San Francisco.