Russell Irvine
1944-08-18 2018-06-17
Obituary for Dr. Russell W. Irvine
“I have tried to live my life in the service of something greater than myself.”
-Dr. Russell W. Irvine on receiving the Hall of Excellence Award in 2015
from his alma mater, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Dr. Russell W. Irvine, affectionately known as “Irvine,” was born on August 18, 1944, in Havre de Grace, Maryland to the late Laura Christy Irvine Greene and the late Russell W. Irvine, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Dr. Jacqueline Jordan Irvine; his daughter Kelli Irvine Neptune (Lionel); his grandsons, Devin and Jalen; his sister, Joyce Clarke; his only surviving aunt, Mae James Piner; and a large family and group of friends who will miss him greatly.
A great believer in education, Irvine graduated in 1962 from Central Consolidated High School, in Bel Air, Maryland and received his B.A. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (1966). He earned his M.A. at the University of Akron (1968) and his Ph.D. in the Sociology of Education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (1974). He taught Sociology of Education at Georgia State University for 44 years and enjoyed teaching both graduate and undergraduate students. His love of education was nurtured by his mother’s family. A free family long before the Civil War, they produced a long line of educators, doctors, and scientists, and Irvine was very proud of this heritage.
Irvine was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was fully supportive of his wife’s career as a professor of Education at Emory University and was completely engaged in Kelli’s upbringing. He and Jackie enjoyed healthy debates and co-authoring works. Irvine was a loving father who spent time nurturing and playing with his only child. He and Kelli had a lot of fun together! He bought Kelli three horses, taught her how to swim and snorkel (Irvine was a certified scuba diver) and instilled in her the value of hard work and a carefree spirit.
He was also a devoted grandfather and delighted in transferring his many skills, in life and in sports, to Devin and Jalen. His athleticism skipped over his daughter, so he was thrilled when it re-emerged in his two grandsons who thrived under his tutelage. He enjoyed giving them lessons in fishing, swimming, golf and basketball. He particularly loved to play with them. Even as he aged, and much to the dismay of his wife and daughter, he was willing to risk life and limb riding their scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards and driving go-carts.
Irvine loved reading, golf, travel, and political debate. He was a great golfer who played a round of golf or went to the driving range almost every single day. In fact, Irvine had just left the driving range moments before he passed away. Golf provided bragging rights, exercise, and an opportunity to debate his golf buddies. For years Jackie, Irvine and Kelli traveled broadly and spent every summer in the Bahamas.
Irvine loved reading and intellectual discourse. Even after retirement, he would leave the golf course to spend the day researching and writing at the local library or the Library of Congress. A rare intellect who loved knowledge for its own sake, he was the author of many articles and books and continued his scholarship. One of his greatest scholarly contributions was published after retirement – his book The African American Quest for Institutions of Higher Education Before the Civil War (a brilliant tome of over 700 pages). At the time of his passing, he was completing another book – a biography of Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of Liberia.
Irvine was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, scholar, athlete and friend. His sudden death has left a void in his family, and he will be missed dearly.
“I have tried to live my life in the service of something greater than myself.”
-Dr. Russell W. Irvine on receiving the Hall of Excellence Award in 2015
from his alma mater, the University of Maryland Eastern Shore.
Dr. Russell W. Irvine, affectionately known as “Irvine,” was born on August 18, 1944, in Havre de Grace, Maryland to the late Laura Christy Irvine Greene and the late Russell W. Irvine, Sr. He is survived by his wife of 49 years, Dr. Jacqueline Jordan Irvine; his daughter Kelli Irvine Neptune (Lionel); his grandsons, Devin and Jalen; his sister, Joyce Clarke; his only surviving aunt, Mae James Piner; and a large family and group of friends who will miss him greatly.
A great believer in education, Irvine graduated in 1962 from Central Consolidated High School, in Bel Air, Maryland and received his B.A. from the University of Maryland Eastern Shore (1966). He earned his M.A. at the University of Akron (1968) and his Ph.D. in the Sociology of Education at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio (1974). He taught Sociology of Education at Georgia State University for 44 years and enjoyed teaching both graduate and undergraduate students. His love of education was nurtured by his mother’s family. A free family long before the Civil War, they produced a long line of educators, doctors, and scientists, and Irvine was very proud of this heritage.
Irvine was a devoted husband, father and grandfather. He was fully supportive of his wife’s career as a professor of Education at Emory University and was completely engaged in Kelli’s upbringing. He and Jackie enjoyed healthy debates and co-authoring works. Irvine was a loving father who spent time nurturing and playing with his only child. He and Kelli had a lot of fun together! He bought Kelli three horses, taught her how to swim and snorkel (Irvine was a certified scuba diver) and instilled in her the value of hard work and a carefree spirit.
He was also a devoted grandfather and delighted in transferring his many skills, in life and in sports, to Devin and Jalen. His athleticism skipped over his daughter, so he was thrilled when it re-emerged in his two grandsons who thrived under his tutelage. He enjoyed giving them lessons in fishing, swimming, golf and basketball. He particularly loved to play with them. Even as he aged, and much to the dismay of his wife and daughter, he was willing to risk life and limb riding their scooters, skateboards, and hoverboards and driving go-carts.
Irvine loved reading, golf, travel, and political debate. He was a great golfer who played a round of golf or went to the driving range almost every single day. In fact, Irvine had just left the driving range moments before he passed away. Golf provided bragging rights, exercise, and an opportunity to debate his golf buddies. For years Jackie, Irvine and Kelli traveled broadly and spent every summer in the Bahamas.
Irvine loved reading and intellectual discourse. Even after retirement, he would leave the golf course to spend the day researching and writing at the local library or the Library of Congress. A rare intellect who loved knowledge for its own sake, he was the author of many articles and books and continued his scholarship. One of his greatest scholarly contributions was published after retirement – his book The African American Quest for Institutions of Higher Education Before the Civil War (a brilliant tome of over 700 pages). At the time of his passing, he was completing another book – a biography of Joseph Jenkins Roberts, the first president of Liberia.
Irvine was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, scholar, athlete and friend. His sudden death has left a void in his family, and he will be missed dearly.