It is with profound sadness that we at Brain Support Network (BSN) announce the passing of our dear friend, Steven Russell, on Sunday, August 25, 2024. Steven was a pivotal figure in the creation of BSN, serving as a founding Board member and finance director. His unwavering belief in BSN’s mission was reflected in his final act of generosity—donating his brain for research. (Brains from neurologically-normal donors are needed.)
Steven’s journey with the Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and atypical parkinsonism communities began in 1993 when his father, Dave, was diagnosed with PD. Steven was his father’s primary caregiver, a role he embraced with compassion and dedication. After Dave’s passing, Steven remained committed to helping caregivers and those with neurological disorders, volunteering for over 18 years with different community organizations. He cherished his work leading PD support groups for Stanford. Caregivers especially benefited from his wisdom and knowledge of resources. We all benefited from his kindness and dry wit.
In addition to serving as BSN’s director of finance for 12 years, he was our resident expert at organizing events. In the last few months alone, he helped us organize three large symposia on neurological disorders.
Read more about Steven, donate in his honor, and leave a message for the questbook here.