Russell Boon Rhea
Russell Boon Rhea
Friends are invited to join his family in celebration of his abundant life on Sunday, March 13, 2016 from 12 - 2 PM, at his home at 669 Chicago Blvd. A reception at The Raven Lounge will follow at 3 PM. A separate service will be held at his mother’s home in Decatur, GA on Saturday April 16th.
Russell died peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday, February 17, 2016 in Detroit, Michigan. He was born on June 18, 1961 in Columbus, Georgia to Dr. James W. and Ann Rhea (nee: Boon). He is survived by: his children, Alene K. Rhea of Brooklyn, New York, James W. Rhea of Morris CT. and Eleanor T. Rhea of Morris CT.; his mother, Ann Boon Rhea; his sisters, Lucille Rhea and Wendy Rhea Whitacre; his nephew and niece Jack and Lucy Whitacre; his brother-in-law Tim Whitacre; two uncles, many cousins, and countless friends. Russell moved to Dhahran, Saudi Arabia when he was three years old. At 15 he returned to Atlanta to attend Westminster High School. He matriculated into Tulane University where he studied architecture and engineering, receiving his BSE in 1984. In 1987, he was awarded an MBA from Thunderbird AGSIM in Arizona, and he went on to earn a JD and an LLM from The University of Connecticut in 2007. His keen intelligence and Herculean energies afforded him numerous careers, among them attorney, snowboard boot empresario, entrepreneur, and realtor.
Possessed of an indomitable joie-de-vivre, Russell packed several lifetimes into his 54 years, travelling to 61 countries and making life-long friends wherever he landed. He spent his final years in Detroit, a city he loved. Russell cut a wide swath in numerous and disparate social circles. His various memberships and associations included the Detroit Athletic Club, Mensa, the Indian Village Tennis Club, Boston Edison Neighborhood Association, John’s Carpet House, Aramco Brats, Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, and a weekly Mah Jongg club. Russell's enthusiasm for life was contagious, and his irresistible charisma could light up a room like no other. Even in death he remains larger than life.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Rhea College Fund*, established to enable Jim and Eleanor to complete their undergraduate degrees. (*? Wendy Rhea Whitacre, 3 Sandy Beach Rd, Freeport ME 04032