Russell "Russ" Joseph Ricci

Russell Joseph Ricci was born on May 5th, 1946 to Maria (Lombari) Ricci and Joseph D. Ricci. He was raised in the Dean Estates section of Cranston, making lifelong friends there. He was a member of Cranston High School West's first graduating class and went on to Columbia University on a scholarship. Later he went to NYU School of Medicine, and then to Harvard University to train as a child psychiatrist. Russ practiced at McLean Hospital but soon found himself to be intrigued by the role of computers in health care. Ultimately he became the leader of IBM's medical division, traveling the world often. After that, he became a senior adviser to Meditech, where again he made friends.

Russ loved the pleasures of life. Theater, particularly cabaret, good food, good music, skiing, sailing, travel, and most importantly, good company. Being in a crowd, hot tubbing with the neighbors, flirting, laughing, and networking were his favorite things to do.

Russ lived with Parkinson's for 20 years, complications of which led to his death on Dec 9, 2024. His wife of 54 years, Carla, and his daughter, Katie, and son, Matt, as well as the family dog, Lucy, were at his bedside where he died in comfort. He is also survived by his granddaughter, Heron, and daughter-in-law Betsy. He leaves behind his family here in Rhode Island, a large extended family in Boston, his neighbors, the Davin-Kesler family, and many friends in Charlestown and Providence, as well as many friends worldwide. He leaves behind so many people whom he loved and who loved him in return.

A gathering of family and friends will happen in January featuring Italian food and lots of hugs and kisses. 

Philanthropy, either the giving of money or the giving of time, was very important to Russ. In lieu of flowers, please consider giving to your favorite organization, to Charlestown’s food pantry - Rhode Island Center Assisting those in Need (RICAN), PO Box 73 Carolina, RI 02812 or The Charlestown Land Trust, PO Box 1387 Charlestown, RI 02813.

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