It is with sadness that we announce the passing of David Gray Russell (International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology, 1993), an accomplished Professor and Emeritus Professor, School of Physical Education, University of Otago, New Zealand (NZ).
Professor Russell received his teaching certificate in NZ in 1958, his BPE (1970) and MPE (1971) from the UBC School of Kinesiology (head of the graduating BPE class). He completed an MA (psychology) in 1972 and his PhD (motor learning and control) in 1974 at the University of Michigan. David then was a Research Assistant Professor at the University of Illinois before moving to the Human Movement Studies Dept at the University of Queensland in Australia where he was a Senior Lecturer from 1974 – 81 and Head of the Dept from 1978- 81.
In 1981 he became Dean of the School of Physical Education at the University of Otago, NZ until July 1991. Following his period as Dean of the School, David established the Life in New Zealand Activity and Health Research (LINZ) Unit and was Director of this Unit until his retirement in 2001. David’s research interests have included: coordinating a research review on drugs in sport for the Royal Society of NZ culminating in the publication ‘Drugs in Sport: Their Use and Abuse’; and exploring the cost of inactivity of the New Zealand population leading to the report ‘The Cost of Doing Nothing.’
David is survived by his wife Ruth of 63 years, his children Neil and Susan, grandchild Lucy. We send them all our condolences. David is remembered fondly remembered by his many colleagues throughout the world. He has left an exceptional legacy of scholarship and friendship.