Russell D. McGovern

Russell D. McGovern, age 92, died Thursday, April 16th, 2015, at his home in Burlingame, CA. Russell was preceded in death by his wife Nancy Ann Gorton of Corning, New York, who died in October, 2005. Russell is survived by his four sons; Russell Daniel Jr., John Waldron, William Edward and James Young McGovern.

Russell was born on April 19th, 1922 in Great Falls, Montana to Daniel Cornelius and Electa McGovern. Russell’s family moved from Montana to San Francisco, CA, when he was six years old, and lived in a bungalow on 43rd Avenue, located just a few blocks from Golden Gate Park and the Pacific Ocean. Russell and his schoolmates enjoyed sailing the ponds in Golden Gate Park on homemade bamboo rafts, although Russell later confided that the seaworthiness of the rafts was often questionable, and sailing too far from shore could be risky. Russell had five older sisters and no brothers, and often joked that he was “raised by his six mothers’. His heart was always in San Francisco, and he returned to the city soon after retiring from the Army in 1975.

Russell, also known as “Mac”, graduated from the West Point Military Academy in 1945, and distinguished himself as an Infantry Officer in the US Army for 30 years. Before he entered West Point, he attended the Presidio West Point Prep School. He loved his time in the army dearly, despite being called away from his wife and family several times to serve overseas; including the Philippines after WWII as a Lieutenant and Junior Aide to General MacArthur. He sometimes joked that he spent more time running errands for Mrs. MacArthur than he spent with the General. Russell also served in the Korea and Vietnam wars, as well as one more tour during peacetime Korea. His last assignment, from 1972 to 1975, was as the installation commander at NATO Headquarters in Belgium (SHAPE). While at SHAPE, Russell served under the NATO commanders General Andrew Goodpaster and General Alexander Haig, respectively. Russell retired from the Army as a full colonel in August, 1975.

In addition to his career in the military, Russell also had a life-long passion for oil painting, and created well over 100 oil-on-canvas paintings treasured by his family and friends alike.

A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 AM on Saturday, May 2nd, at Our Lady of Angels Catholic Church at 1721 Hillside Drive in Burlingame, CA. Private inurnment, West Point Cemetery, West Point, NY.