Russell Peter Hartwell

Russell Peter Hartwell passed away July 10, 2026 at 82 years old. He had been fighting blood cancer. Russ and his wife, Diane, moved to Sun City Center 3 1/2 years ago after a harsh winter in Brewerton, NY.

He was an Independent Contractor in the Outdoor Sporting Goods industry, and along with his two sub-reps covered the territory of Pennsylvania to Maine. He was on Ski Patrol at Labrador Mountain in Truxton, NY, and taught cross country skiing at Lemoyne College in Syracuse, NY. For summer sports, he was a Certified Kayak Instructor and taught Sail Boarding on Oneida Lake. He loved water skiing and sailing with his friends on Lake Ontario, all while attending Syracuse University.

Being an Eagle Scout and God and Country in the Boy Scouts, he loved camping, and climbing the 46 Adirondack Peaks, summer and winter.

Hunting ducks and deer was one of his great passions. He spent each November at his friends hunting camp in the Adirondacks, which was the highlight of his Fall.

Working at the Liverpool Sport Center in Liverpool, NY, he lead ski trips to Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.

Russ also led whitewater rafting trips to the Ottawa River in Canada, and rivers in West Virginia and New York. Sometimes two buses of 40 people each.

Along with his wife, Diane, he leaves his children Denise Marie Blanchard (Bruce), Russell John Hartwell, James Peter Hartwell (Jesika), Matthew Lee Millus (Karen), and Laura Lee Esposito (Patrick), Six grand children and two great grand children.

Russ has a sister, Sharon Miller in NH and brother, Philip Hartwell (Kelly) in CA. and six nieces and nephews.

Russ led a full active life and everyone loved to hear his "long story short" He will be sorely missed by all who loved him and those who were lucky enough to encounter him.