Russell A. Spies

March 9, 1937 — January 22, 2017

Russell D. Spies of Bennington died January 22, 2017 at the Vermont Veterans Home.

Born in the Bronx, NYC, Russ's early interest in aviation started with attendance at the Manhattan HS of Aviation Trades than two years at NYU followed by the Naval Aviation Cadet Program at Penscola, FL. Graduating in 1958 as a Naval Aviator with a commission in the Marine Corp he was assigned to a close air support squadron at Cherry Point, NC where he completed carrier qualifications and was assigned to a carrier air group. Until his return to civilian life in 1962 Russ participated in training activities in the Mediterranean and at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. He was part of the Marine reinforcement team targeted for the Russian missile sites on the island. He achieved the rank of captain and technical qualification as a maintenance test pilot.

Following military service, Russ returned to college where he obtained hos BSEE at San Jose State and Masters in Nuclear Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University. Russ proceeded to work in the nuclear industry for 35 years at Combustion Engineering in Windsor, CT. He worked as a designer, project engineer, and finally as manager of the site office for Asea Brown Boveri Nuclear Operations at the Fort Calhoun station in Omaha, Nebraska.

Russ's volunteer activities included; Bennington Free Library, AARP Tax-Aide, and Money Management programs; and, Shrewsbury, Vermont town auditor and member of the volunteer fire department.

Russ is survived by his wife, Barbara, two children and two step-children.

Guestbook condolences may be made at wwwmaharandsonfuneralhome.net.

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