Charles Russell Shillaber

Charles Russell Shillaber, known as Russ to family and friends, died on August 24th in Wentworth Douglas Hospital with his sons at his side. He was 92. Born and raised in Newburyport, Massachusetts, Russ enlisted in the United States Navy after graduating from high school in 1948. During his 5 years of military service he served aboard the USS Soley, an experience he said taught him more than he ever learned in a classroom. Russ attended the University of New Hampshire, where he met Lynn McCann. The two were married in 1956. The following year, Russ graduated with a degree in Business Administration. He was employed by the Internal Revenue Service for eleven years in several different capacities, in Berlin and Portsmouth, NH. During this period, he attended Boston College Law School as a night student and earned his law degree in 1966. The same year he was admitted to the New Hampshire Bar and authorized to practice before the U.S. District Court for New Hampshire. In 1972 he was admitted to practice before the U.S. Tax Court. Russ entered private law practice in 1968, joining Cooper, Hall & Walker in Rochester, NH. He practiced estate and tax law there and with successor firms until his retirement in May of 2017 at age 87. In 2016 he was honored by the NH Bar Association for 50 years of membership in the Bar. Russ and his family made their home in Gorham and North Hampton, NH before moving to a small farm in Strafford, NH in 1970. The farm was a special passion of Russ's. He managed the property as a Tree Farm, and he made cider and maple syrup, planted Christmas trees, and raised chickens, ducks, turkeys, sheep, goats, cattle, and pigs. Russ was especially content when at work in his vegetable garden and was never happier than when everything on the table at dinner had come from the farm. Long engaged in the communities where he lived, Russ served as Chair of the Membership Committee of the Daniel Webster Council of Boy Scouts, and on the boards of the Boys Club of Rochester, Strafford County YMCA, Rochester Fair Association, Elaine Conners Center for Wildlife, NH Farm Museum, and Rochester Cemetery Association. He also served on the Regional Advisory Board of the Piscataqua Region of the NH Charitable Foundation. In 1973, he was elected Moderator for the Town of Strafford, a role he served for 27 years. Russ was predeceased by his beloved wife Lynn in 1994 and by his sisters Carolyn (Patterson) and Elizabeth (Coleman). He is survived by his brother Robert of Providence, RI; his two sons, Scott (Nancy) of Deerfield, NH, and Jim (Ellen) of Newton, MA; his three grandchildren, Craig (Jillian), Betsy (Mike), and Annie (Lucas); and his six great grandchildren. The family will hold a memorial service in late September. In lieu of flowers, donations in honor of Russ can be made to Elaine Conners Wildcare, PO Box 97, Madison, NH, 03849.