THE CURIOUS CASE OF THE RUSSELL BUTTONS How BLF’s Russell Met Russ!
Hey folks, it’s Russell again, and I have a crazy story to share! A few weeks ago, I got an email out of the blue from another Russell Button. At first, I was sure the message was spam, but the more I read, the more amazed and convinced I was. This other Russell (I’ll call him “Russ”) was a real person reaching out to me because we had the same name. Russ is a musician and an industrial engineer-turned- interfaith chaplain. He’s a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and lives in a bungalow in Alameda, California. I couldn’t resist finding out more, so my team called Russ to learn his story. It turns out Russ has been casually seeking out other Russell Buttons since the 1990s. It all started when his 18-piece band, Russ Button’s Swing Orchestra, played a dance in Menlo Park, California.
“During a break, this guy came up to me and said, ‘Are you Russ Button?’ and I said, ‘Yeah,’ and he said, ‘ I’m Russ Button!’” Russ recalls. “He pulled out his driver’s license and showed me his name was Russell Button! It was pretty funny, and we had a good laugh over it.” That causal encounter inspired Russ to look for other Russell Buttons. He discovered a “distant cousin” in Michigan and ran into another in San Francisco. Then, through Google, he found me! Russ can trace his genealogy back to Matthias Button, who traveled from England to Massachusetts in 1628. We might both be his descendants. It’s a cool story, but what amazed me most is that Russ, like me, is on a journey to make a difference. He had a tough childhood, and healing from trauma inspired him to give back.
“When I was approaching retirement, I wondered, ‘What could I do to make a difference? I don’t need to work; I have money and the house paid for, so what can I do to make the world a better place?’ Working as a chaplain seemed like the thing,” Russ said. Today, Russ ministers to the sick, the dying, and their families in local hospitals. He serves the spiritual needs of people of all faiths and backgrounds. When Russ isn’t working, he makes music with his band, Horns a Plenty, or spends time with his violinist wife, Katherine. To hear their music, visit HornsaPlenty.org and TemescalQuartet.com.
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“The Button Law Firm is full of top-notch professionals. They are currently handling a case for my daughter, and I’m very impressed with their processes, the communication, and updates they have provided me and my wife to date. As a practicing attorney, I have a high standard of who I trust to handle matters for the people I love most in this world. The Button Law Firm has gone above and beyond my expectations, and I am confident I will continue to receive great service from their firm. I highly recommend giving them a call if you have a situation in involving an issue with a child and a day care.” • Tracy McDuffie
Ashley and Cristina on Cristina’s Birthday
Ashley and Cristina’s sister got her masters degree
The newest addition to Russell’s gym: The Rogue Donkey
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