Martin "Russ" Russell McPadden

Martin Russell "Russ" McPadden, 76, of Sun City Center, FL, beloved husband of Diane M. King, passed away Friday, October 24, 2014 at LifePath Hospice. Russ was born in Schenectady, NY on June 10, 1938, the son of the late Martin Francis and Ellen (Russell) McPadden. He graduated from Mount Pleasant High School in Schenectady, NY in 1955 and Siena College in Loudonville, NY in 1959 with a degree in Business Administration. At Siena he was President of the ROTC. After graduation, he married Alice C. Brumagim. Their life together began with travel, as Russ served his country, which included service time at Fort Bragg, NC and Erlangen, Germany during the Berlin Crisis. After returning to upstate New York, Russ entered the private sector and began his career with Travelers Insurance Company as a claims adjuster in Schenectady and Cobleskill, NY. In 1968, he was promoted to the home office in Hartford, CT, where he settled in Vernon and raised his family. He spent the next 35 years at Travelers in roles with progressively increasing levels of responsibility before retiring in 1995 as a Regional Vice President. Russ was involved in many political and volunteer activities, including President of Vernon Little League, President of Vernon Elementary PTO, Coach for Little Miss Softball, Corporator at Rockville Bank, Director of Hockanum Valley Community Council, Member of the Vernon Board of Education, Referee for Vernon Basketball League, and Eucharistic Minister at St. Bernard Catholic Church. There wasn't a sporting event he didn't enjoy attending. Russ maintained a second home in Cummaquid, MA on Cape Cod, where he attended St. Pius X Catholic Church, played golf at the Bass River and Bayberry golf courses in South Yarmouth, and was a member of the Retired Men's Club. In 2003, Russ married Diane M. King, and they relocated to Sun City Center, FL. There he was a member of Prince of Peace Catholic Church, Knights of Columbus Fourth Degree Assembly #2533 and Falcon Watch Golf Course. While his health deteriorated in recent years, his spirit and will to regain his strength never wavered. He spent his last years at Homewood Residence Assisted Living Facility in Sun City Center where he received extraordinarily compassionate care. Besides his devoted wife Diane, of Sun City Center, FL, he is survived by his children, Deirdre M. McPadden and her husband David Giller of Willington, CT, M. Sean McPadden and his wife Carrie of Fort Worth, TX, M. Christopher McPadden and his wife Karen of Vernon, CT, Maura M. Tyszka and her husband Ed of Vernon, CT; his brother-in-law, Ronald Cota and his wife Jean of Sarasota, FL; his stepson, Major Richard A. Marshall of Vernon, CT; his grandchildren, Kienan and Braeden Giller, McCartie and Carrick McPadden, Patrick and Corinne McPadden, and Alice and Delaney Tyszka; and his nephew, David Cota. He was predeceased by his wife, Alice C. (Brumagim) McPadden in 1997; his sister, Nancy Cota in 2008; his granddaughter, Michaela Giller in 1997; and his nephew Mark Cota in 2012. Services took place at Burke-Fortin Funeral Home and St. Bernard Church. Burial with military honors took place at St. Bernard Cemetery in Rockville, CT. Memorial donations can also be made to Prince of Peace Catholic Church.