Russell VanDyke ’51

Russell VanDyke ’51, 86, of Rochester, MN. passed away on Saturday, January 21, 2017 at Mayo Clinic Hospital – St. Marys Campus in Rochester. Russell was born on February 8, 1930 in Rochester, NY to Russell H. and Mary Geneva (Austin) VanDyke.

He graduated from high school in Rochester, NY and attended Hope College and the University of Michigan earning his Master’s degree. Russell served in the U.S. Army from 1953 to 1956.  On July 28, 1956, he married Sally Olsen. He later obtained his PhD from the University of Illinois in Champagne, IL.

Russell worked for Dow Chemical, and then Mayo Clinic from 1969 – 1989.  He worked for the Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, MI for 5 years before returning to Rochester, MN in 2003.  Russell enjoyed yard work, carpentry, sailing, golf and was involved with work for Habitat for Humanity.

Russell is survived by his wife, Sally; two daughters, Celia Sullivan of South Range, WI and Linda and Mounzer Hammoud of Dearborn Heights, MI; eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister Mary Alice VanDyke ’48 Klomperon, and a son-in-law Daniel Sullivan.