Russell John De Ment

Russell John De Ment, a systems engineer, gardener, and athlete, died on 3 June 2025 from complications resulting from a blood disorder. The Seattle resident was 69 years old. By his side were his wife, his sisters, and friends, and he was attended with expertise and care by the nurses, nurse practitioners, and doctors of the University of Washington Medical Center – Montlake and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center.

The son of globetrotting parents, Russ was born on 4 February 1956 in Naples, Italy, where his father was a major in the U.S. Army. After stops in Tokyo, Paris, and Maryland, where Maj. De Ment was stationed at the Pentagon, the family moved to Los Gatos, California, where Mr. De Ment worked in the defense industry. As a teenager, Russ, over four years, helped his father build the family home on Soda Springs Road, above Los Gatos. At Los Gatos High School, Russ was a standout running back for the Wildcats; at the University of California, Berkeley, he was a member of the Golden Bears team that in 1975 was co-champion, with UCLA, of the PAC-8 Conference.

In Los Angeles, he worked for 15 years at Security Pacific National Bank (now Bank of America) as a vice president in charge of tax compliance for trust and custody assets. At the bank, he met Mary Susan; when she was transferred by BA to her hometown of Seattle, Russ realized a dream and enrolled in the University of Washington’s School of Engineering, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering in 2004.

Russ started his engineering career at AVTECH, then moved to Korry Electronics, an aerospace firm in Mukilteo, where he worked as a test engineer, a quality engineer, and, eventually, as the manager of Central Engineering.

While growing up in California, Russ spent many happy years exploring the Santa Cruz Mountains. His years of knowledge and experience later led to his leadership role at the head of a small team traveling fast and light up Mount Whitney; the successful ascent established his reputation as a master of trail snacks. Russ took great pleasure spending most of his free time at the two cabins the couple owned, one in Clinton, on Whidbey Island, the other outside of Whaletown, on Cortes Island, in Desolation Sound. Both cabins required renovation and repair, prompting his lasting contributions to haulology, which were vast and significant; he was also recognized for his singularly innovative work with a car jack in the field of tiny-cabin rehab.

Russ also loved gardening, and he spent many, many pleasurable hours contouring the lands surrounding the two cabins, planting trees, flowers, and herbs, and guiding the course of water away, far away from both structures. He served for several years as a Land Steward for the Whidbey Camano Land Trust.

When not working in the dirt, Russ could be found rowing on his erg; he truly loved his workouts at Seattle’s Washington Athletic Club and College Club.

Ever the engineer, Russ brought his problem-solving and troubleshooting skills to bear on his medical care, cheerfully and enthusiastically engaging his doctors on the technical complexities of their efforts to help him.

Russ is survived by his wife, Mary Susan Wilson; his three sisters, Sandra, Carol, and Diane Langston (Jay, and their children Stacy, Brennick, and Heather); and his brother-in-law, John Lawrence Wilson (Patricia O’Connell). He was preceded in death by his father, Russell Otha De Ment; his mother, Charlotte Krupa De Ment; and his brother-in-law, David Deuter.

Arrangements will be handled by Emmick Family Funeral Services, with burial at Seattle’s Calvary Cemetery. Memorials may be sent to The Cal Football Fund (give.berkeley.edu/fund/FF0524000).

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