Russell Randall

RANDALL, Russell Edward, Russell E. Randall, 95, of Mechanicsville, VA, died Saturday, April 27. Born in 1928, Russ was the son of Russell E. Randall and Margaret Beatty Randall. He is survived by five children, Debbie, Bill, Kurt, Chad, and John. He was predeceased by first wife Marilyn Reid and son Mark. Russ graduated high school at age 16 to attend Princeton University. He was a wrestling champion both in high school and college. He received an MD from Columbia University Medical School in 1953. He entered the U.S. Air Force Medical Service in 1953 and was commissioned a Major. He served at Travis Air Force Base in Cal. and at the 1605th USAF Hospital in the Azores. Highlights of his medical career, after receiving an honorable discharge from the Air Force, include: becoming the youngest full professor of medicine at The Medical College of Virginia (MCV); being the director of the Renal Division and NIH training program in nephrology at MCV for ten years; discovering a disease named after him when he and his research fellows identified Randall-type monoclonal immunoglobulin deposition disease (MIDD), and establishing the first ambulatory dialysis center in Richmond, VA. He was a well respected pioneer in the specialty of nephrology. Medicine was Russ's first and enduring love, both practice and research. Another abiding love was wrestling. He continued to participate in the sport as referee. He founded and coached the champion (1968-1971) Huguenot High School and the VCU wrestling teams in Richmond. More than one wrestler said he taught them invaluable, enduring life lessons that prepared them for successful lives and careers. Russ had an incredible creative and analytical mind that made him an outstanding diagnostician as well as a creative artist. Russ was happiest when involved in a creative project whether it be medical, architectural or artistic. He will be remembered as a brilliant physician, teacher of medicine and wrestling, talented self-taught artist and analytical thinker with a strong work ethic. He became bored easily, had a restless spirit, had a quirky sense of humor, and believed in the geographical cure as demonstrated by over 48 moves in his lifetime. He loved nature and ice cream. Russ wanted no funeral. He donated his body to the Virginia Anatomical Society. It was accepted for anatomical study at medical colleges in the state.