Russ lives with his wife Marion at 6,400 feet in the central mountains of Mexico in San Miguel de Allende in the State of Guanajuato . (See links below.) There are some 4,000 Americans and Canadians plus a number of European and other foreigners living there within this hilly Colonial city of over 50,000 people. The wonderfully mild year-round climate, the mixture of the several Mexican and foreign cultures, the feeling of community, and lots of art, theatre and music has attractedmany artists, writers, poets, sculptors, jewelers, musicians and free spirits over the past 50 years.

Within this community there are many opportunities for community service. Russ is and has been an active board member and volunteer for several of these, including:

a.. President of the San Miguel Suzuki String Program for Children, providing musical education on violin and cello for children from ages 4 to 16 using the world-famous Suzuki method, including a number of children in three orphanages in San Miguel.

b.. Co-founder in 1990 (now retired from the Board) of the San Miguel el Grande Pro Musica association, that presents world-class chamber music concerts during 10 months of the year in intimate settings with professional musicians from Mexico, North and South America, and Europe. (See www.promusicasma.com.)

c.. Past President (1995) of the Festival de Música de Cámara de San Miguel de Allende, a two week summer festival featuring world-renowned string quartets, trios, and soloists; this festival celebrates its 30th year in 2008. (See www.chambermusicfestival.com)

d.. Past President of the International Lions Club of San Miguel de Allende; past Board member of the Feed the Hungry Program, which now feeds over 4,000 school children each school day in and around San Miguel; and past Senior Warden and committee member of St. Paul's Anglican Church of San Miguel, an active community center that is a member of the Iglésia Anglicana de México, a
Province of the worldwide Anglican Communion. (See www.stpauls.org.mx.).