I will always treasure my relationship with Joe. He was a successful, caring, and giving man. Always a pleasure to be in his presence
Joseph Vance Russell
January 20, 1941 ~ November 30, 2024
Born in:
Nashville, Tennesssee
Resided in:
Nashville, Tennessee
NASHVILLE- Joseph Vance Russell, 83, beloved husband, father, grandfather and respected business and civic leader passed away peacefully on November 30, 2024, surrounded by the love and presence of his family. He was born on January 20, 1941, in Nashville. He was preceded in death by his parents, John C. Russell and Frances Vance Russell and his brother John Russell.
Joe is survived by his wife, Anne Lowry Russell whom he called the love of his life, and his children, Dara Russell (Mike Bussard), Canyn Russell, Rebecca Russell Howard (John A. Howard III) and his grandchildren Warner Dickson, Laine Russell Dickson, Mary Claire Russell Dawson, SarahAnne Dawson, Elizabeth Scott Dawson, John A. Howard IV, Russell Vance Howard, and River Abigail Howard and a beloved brother-in-law, Ken Lowry (Diane) and a host of nieces and nephews including Kate Lowry Coble (Neely Coble IV), Mary Kelton Coble, Kristen Lowry Blackard (Chad), Greg King (Scarlett), Derek Wilkinson, Serena Wilkinson, Teresa Ferguson, Tracy Barreiro (Efrain) and many more.
Joe embodied hard work, leadership, and a passion for business. A graduate of Isaac Litton High School and the University of Tennessee in Knoxville with a degree in Business and Finance, Joe began working as a young boy with an early morning paper route. While initially learning about the principles of banking and the stock market from his father, Joe discovered his interest in global markets, investing, and formulating structures for business success. This interest grew into a love of finance, and he began navigating the complex global dynamics of footwear production and distribution.
Joe started his career in the International Footwear Division of Genesco. Seeing opportunity in this market, Joe founded his own footwear company, Elan Imports with Paul Cahn of St. Louis in 1976. The partners named their new company after their wives, Elissa, and Anne, and built an international business as wholesale footwear suppliers in the worldwide mass market sector. Under Joe’s inspiring leadership, Elan Imports expanded throughout Asia, Europe, South America, and Australia and played a vital role in global footwear manufacturing. His engaging personality and social skills partnered well with his gift for mathematics and visionary entrepreneurship. Joe was a calculator with feet. Elan was a top supplier of footwear to Walmart and many other national and international retailers for decades. The company became Elan-Polo upon entering the Asia markets. Joe also served as Chair of the FDRA, Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America.
Joe traveled the world extensively throughout his career but always preferred to be at home with his wife and family. His solution was to take them with him as much as possible. His early days in India and other countries were spent manufacturing woven leather fashion footwear for popular prices and discount retailers and provided an education he could not obtain in any business school. His travels took him to many areas of the world that were still undeveloped at that time leading to many stories about practices, people, products, and facilities that would become the basis for conversations for his entire remaining career. He learned the unstated points of manufacturing in various countries that can only be learned from experience. He happily shared those experiences with friends, colleagues, family, and strangers whether they wanted to hear the details or not. He also felt it was his duty to add his own narration of “Slum Dog Millionaire” in the theater by offering additional details when a movie did not fully describe life as he had observed it there. Not everyone in the theater appreciated the free portion of the movie but Joe was undeterred.
Joe’s career in international business was defined by vision, problem-solving, and storytelling—always with a deep respect for colleagues and partners. More recently, Joe launched a domestic manufacturing footwear company bringing jobs back to the United States. This company continues to grow and flourish today.
Beyond footwear, Joe invested in many diverse ventures, acquiring hundreds of partners along the way. He co -founded Joseph V Russell & Associates, an investment holding company, and further developed many entrepreneurial opportunities with friends and partners in multi-family residential and commercial construction, real estate development, auto insurance, health care, banking, retail footwear and other retail concepts , storage facilities, surfboards in Australia, high volume fashion shoes in Brazil, athletic shoes in China, and a myriad of other opportunities he helped bring to reality. He sincerely loved the challenges and the possibilities of making dreams come true and mentoring colleagues in the process. He felt a duty to his partners to treat them respectfully as he would expect to be treated fairly and honestly and he applied those standards as he helped others develop, assess, problem-solve, and adjust in their various ventures. Joe’s favorite collaborator, however, was his wife, with whom he shared a lifetime of partnership.
Joe was by any measure a consummate salesman. With bright blue eyes, humor and a caring, inquisitive personality, he could sell anything. He enjoyed a dry wit which sometimes had to be explained, and he referred to himself as a “shoe peddler.” He was humble about success and a true entrepreneur always looking for the next idea and venture. Joe was never without an entertaining story from some destination around the world. His reputation and leadership skills are legendary based on a practical leadership style of empowerment and accountability. He loved problem solving and the bigger the problem, the more exciting it was to solve. He rarely came up short. His influence extended beyond the workplace as he saw potential in people and mentored many through insightful guidance toward professional growth.
Joe was honored as Master Entrepreneur of the Year (SE) by Ernst & Young, was recognized annually as a “Top 100” Business in Nashville and was a graduate of Leadership Nashville. He was a proud Boy Scout who earned his Eagle Scout award at an early age and was presented with the award of NESA Outstanding Eagle Scout. He served on the Middle Tennessee Counsel of Boy Scouts as board chair and was honored with the Silver Beaver Award. He was a generous supporter of the Boy Scouts and kept every badge, pin, and medal that he earned. He was also the recipient of the Brotherhood Award presented by the National Conference of Christians and Jews in New York City.
He received many honors and awards for his service and support to both nonprofit and for-profit organizations. He was a long-time member of the deTocqueville Society of United Way of Middle Tennessee and, along with his wife, was distinguished with a National Excellence in Leadership Award for fundraising by United Way of America. He was one of the founders of Ensworth High School and a generous patron of the arts in Nashville in his long support of The Nashville Symphony and in fundraising for the Schermerhorn Symphony Hall. He sponsored many exhibits for the Frist Center for Visual Arts. He was a philanthropic supporter of Cheekwood, Alive Hospice, The Andrew Jackson Foundation, Tennessee Performing Arts Center, Nashville School of Law, Tennessee State Museum and co-chaired the Tennessee Waltz with his wife. He has also been a generous supporter of Metro Nashville Public Schools, Harpeth Hall School, and Montgomery Bell Academy. Joe served on the Maddox Foundation Board, the Core Civic Board of Directors and he chaired the Vanderbilt Heart Council and supported research scholarships for Vanderbilt Hospital. He served as chair of the Nashville Chapter of the Red Cross and provided scholarships for the University of Tennessee in the College of Business, and Bridge Scholarships at Belmont University as well as a residence hall. His final commitment was to build a Chapel for the new Frist College of Medicine at Belmont University. He was very excited about his final project under construction. He served as a member of the Belmont University Board of Trustees for 22 years where he was on the executive committee, finance committee, search committee, investment committee and secretary of the Board. In his final year, he reluctantly moved from active trustee to emeritus trustee. He was honored for his service with an Honorary Doctorate from Belmont in 2023.
He loved the outdoors and conservation. He was an avid hunter and a member of the International Order of St Hubertus. He was a member of SIBF, Society of International Business Fellows. He enjoyed hiking, especially in the mountains of Colorado with his youngest daughter every single summer and walking with his buddies whom he loved dearly. He enjoyed traveling, fishing, and golfing with his wife and friends and loved to entertain. He was a member of the Small Business Leadership Council, the Chef’s Club of Nashville, and the Chattooga Club of Cashiers. He loved snow skiing and was a member of the Beaver Creek Club. He was also a member of Royal Poinciana Club of Naples and Belle Meade Country Club. He was an active member of Forest Hills Baptist Church and a member of the Brotherhood Class which he loved.
The family wishes to thank the staff of Woodcrest at Blakeford for their compassionate care especially Marsha Probst, Kenyatta Wade, and other nursing staff; Coty Lavendar; Hannah Page for her services, care and arrangements and to thank to the doctors and staff at Vanderbilt Hospital and Dr. Emily Kurtz and Dr. Sarah Flury, and the Alive Hospice Team each of whom were angels. The family is so appreciative for the wonderful caregiving, dedication, attention, love, and companionship of our new honorary family member Brandon Gleaves (i.e., James), who tolerated the ups and downs and lived to tell the story of the last two years. Thank you all. You are special.
A Celebration of Life will be held on December 12, 2024, at 1 pm at Forest Hills Baptist Church, located at 2101 Old Hickory Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215. A visitation and reception will immediately follow from 2PM until 4PM, at Belle Meade Country Club, located at 815 Belle Meade Blvd., Nashville, TN 37215.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers any memorial contributions may be made to Belmont University, 1900 Belmont Blvd , Nashville, TN ,37219 Attn: University Advancement or online at www.Belmont.edu/giving/ways-to-give .html or the Middle Tennessee Council of Boy Scouts, 3414 Hillsboro Road, Nashville, TN 37215.
Arrangements in the care of Compassion Funeral & Cremation Services, Nashville, TN (615) 857-9955. We proudly remain locally owned and operated.
Services
Celebration of Life: December 12, 2024 1:00 pm
Forest Hills Baptist Church
2101 Old Hickory Blvd
Nashville, TN 37215
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JosephVanceRussellCelebration of Life
Celebration of Life
2101 Old Hickory Blvd,Nashville, TN 37215
Visitation & Reception: December 12, 2024 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Belle Meade Country Club
815 Belle Meade Blvd.
Nashville, TN 37205
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America/Chicago
2024-12-12 14:00:00
2024-12-12 04:00:00
JosephVanceRussellVisitation & Reception
Visitation & Reception
815 Belle Meade Blvd.,Nashville, TN 37205
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