Nicolas Charles Russell

Nicolas Charles Russell departed this life peacefully on April 23rd, 2026, at his home in Seabrook, TX. Nicolas and his family courageously endured a neurodegenerative illness with grace until his passing. He was married to his beloved wife, Lia, for 36 years. He leaves behind his two sons, James and Theodor, “Teddy”. His daughter-in-laws, Sarah and Maria and his granddaughter Alexandra.

Nicolas “Nick” was born in Hanover, New Hampshire, on May 25th, 1949, to Charles and Elisabeth Dagmar Russell. While he was raised on the East Coast, he traveled extensively and lived in Latin America and Europe.

He attended the Rippowam School in Bedford Village, New York, where he was an avid baseball player. Following in his father Charles’ footsteps, he attended the Kent School in Connecticut. At Denver University he studied Business Administration, where he enjoyed skiing and exploring the Colorado outdoors. After roughnecking on oil rigs in Oklahoma, Nick moved to Texas to pursue a Master’s in photojournalism from the University of Texas. He loved Texas so much that he convinced not only Lia, but also his mother, father, and sisters to move to Texas as well.

Nick’s life changed when he met his vibrant wife, Lia, in Haarlem, the Netherlands in 1987, near his mother’s family home. Lia moved to Houston shortly thereafter. Lia practiced as a registered nurse at Houston Methodist Hospital and a private Electro Physiology Clinic.

Nick’s boys were the delight of his life. The family shared a love of sports, the outdoors, and learning. Nick and Lia’s sons are particularly fond of the adventures and travels together across the US, Europe, and Latin America.

Nick’s legacy is carried on through his sons' appreciation of his intellect, generosity, and curiosity. Teddy prizes his father's comfort with the unknown, and love of art, music and culture; while James values Nick's passion for in-depth reading of history, his adventurous nature, and breadth of knowledge.

A well-respected commercial photographer in Houston, Nick was a master of his craft. His portfolio features a wide range of iconic portraits, from legendary bluesman Muddy Waters to former presidents, George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, boxer Mohammed Ali, guitarist Keith Richards, poet Pablo Neruda, and many others. Nick had a keen sense of fashion, and his photos of models sparkle with life. His body of verité-inspired images reflects his deep connection to physical environments and human interactions.

Nick used light as a medium to celebrate the essence of his subjects. Whether working in the studio or capturing a candid moment in his travels, his photography brought people to life in a way few others could. Much of his work is published by Getty Images. His artistic journey continues through a number of mediums in his photos, videos, and paintings.

Nick was often found in the kitchen preparing exceptional meals; grilling an outdoor asado; gardening to cultivate life in the Texas soil; at the baseball field coaching his sons; on the road soaking in new cultures; making friends and building lifelong connections.

In addition to his immediate family, Nick is survived by:

His mother's sister, Thelma Cremer Sherrer and children and grandchildren.

● His sister, Vanessa and J.P. Rachmaninoff

● His sister, Sasha Russell-Ashmun and her husband John Ashmun

● His step-mother, Inger Russell, her daughters Idun, Urd and their families

● His step-father Guillermo and Guillermo’s wife, Fernanda

● His sisters Abigail Russell, Sarah Shepherd, and Elizabeth Kusmech and children and respective significant others.

● His nieces and nephews, Nicholas, Christian and Victoria Rachmaninoff

● His niece Anouk and her husband, Josip Goreta, great-nephew Luka and great-niece Asha

● Lia’s sisters, Ans, Greta, Marian, and Yvonne, and their respective spouses and children

● Nick also leaves behind many other younger cousins, who will miss him greatly.

Nick was intellectually curious and had an eye for beauty. Those who came before him were vibrant, artful, and adventurous:

● His father, Charles Russell (2025), a gifted author, historian, professor and WWII veteran

● His mother, Elisabeth Dagmar King Cremer (2007), an artist and antique collector

● His grandfather, James Townsend Russell, a renowned archeologist

● His grandmother Lois Hoover

● His grandfather, Jacob Theodore Cremer, a prominent Dutch businessman, and significant figure in the Netherlands' industrial and colonial history

● His grandmother, Johanna Alexandra Cremer, an avid photographer, and lover of music.

Nick’s life was a vibrant mosaic of art, love of family, travel, with an unquenchable passion for living. His life was characterized by passionate pursuits and deep connections. Those of us who knew Nick were blessed by his wisdom, artful eye, and zeal for life.

The family will be forever grateful to the devoted caregivers and nurses who cared for Nick throughout his final years, including: Nakai, Caleb, Xiomara, Sebastian, Laura, Yolanda, Mily, Marta, Krystal, April, Arturo Jr, and Maricela.

Memorial Giving:

Should you desire to make a memorial gift, please consider the following:

● CurePSP: a foundation for neurological diseases

● Armand Bayou Nature Center

● ASPCA

Please join us for a celebration of Nicolas’ life on May 15th, 2026, at 2:00 pm at St. Thomas the Apostle Episcopal Church, 18300 Upper Bay Road, Houston, Texas 77058.