Russell James Zellner

Russell James Zellner of Mattituck passed away Jan. 31 at The Hampton Care Center in Southampton due to a long battle with Parkinson’s Disease. He was 67 years old. 

Russell was born Dec. 4, 1948, in Jamaica, Queens to Joseph Zellner and Donna (Daniher) Zellner. He graduated from Herrick’s High School.

Russell served in the U.S. Navy on the USS San Diego as a boilerman second class where he was the assistant oil king. In 1978, a steamfitter job at Plum Island brought him to the North Fork. From there, he went on to work as a welder at Mattituck Airbase until it closed.

Russell is survived by his devoted wife, Denise (née Schraner); his two loving daughters: Stephanie Zellner Suter, of Riverhead and Bonnie Zellner of Cutchogue; his two grandsons Jackson and Tucker Russell Suter; his sister Patricia Peck of Williston Park; and brother, Thomas, of Chittenango, N.Y. He is also survived by his second family: Kirsten Sanders, John Schraner, Jeffrey Schraner, and Dallas Sanders.

Russell was a lover of life and nature and an avid runner, completing many marathons and road races. He was a longtime member of the Mattituck Gun Club and the former director and lifetime member of the Long Island Harley Owner’s Group. He was happiest riding his motorcycle, listening to the sound of rolling thunder.

A memorial service will be held Sunday, Feb. 7, from 1-3 p.m. at DeFriest-Grattan Funeral Home in Mattituck. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 8, at Beaver Brook Cemetery in Clinton, Conn.

Memorial donations may be sent to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.