Dearest Gail,

I was so saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved Russ. I was so glad that I was able meet him on the last day of our reunion last year at Winedale. The great joy of getting to know you was made more special by meeting your partner in life and love. I was immediately struck by his charm and gentleness. I can still conjure his voice. I think in another place and time we could have been friends. After I returned from the reunion, I made it a point of looking up his works, as I knew he had authored several books. I found “Look to the Lady: Sarah Siddons, Ellen Terry and Judi Dench on the Shakespeare Stage.” I thoroughly enjoyed every detail. Marvelously well written.

My heart aches for you and your family. Know that your Winedale family sends you warm prayers and tight hugs. Once, at the reunion when we were driving back from rehearsals, we stopped at the store and bought a little chess pie. We joked that everything would be better with a piece of pie. If only that were the case, I would send you dozens.

Love, 
Jerald

On Jul 3, 2016, at 11:26 AM, Loehlin, James N <jnloehlin@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

Dear friends,

Laurel and I were deeply saddened to learn of Russ’s passing, and send our love and thoughts to Gail.

Friday night, we sat on the stage at Winedale with the current summer class and talked about Russ.  He truly was a scholar and a gentlemen, and a was great friend and mentor to countless young Shakespeareans, myself included.  He was a wonderful lecturer and an elegant writer, and his personality shone through his work.

I am giving the Winedale students some of Russ’s works to read this summer, and I know he will continue to inspire generations of future scholars.

Best,
James



On Jul 3, 2016, at 9:40 AM, Clayton Stromberger <cstromberger@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

Here is one of the first of what will be, I’m sure, many posted and printed tributes to Russ — 


cs




On Jul 3, 2016, at 8:59 AM, <stan@texashealingarts.com> <stan@texashealingarts.com> wrote:

Sweet, sweet Gail,
 
I have lost your email in a computer crash, if you are reading this, know that my thoughts and love are with you.
 
Thinking of you and your grief, Peter’s lines from Romeo and Juliet keep running through my head: “Musicians, O musicians, “Heart’s Ease,” “Heart’s Ease.” O, an you will have me live, play “Heart’s Ease.”
 
May your full and breaking heart find ease.
 
Love,
 
Stan
 
 
 
 
 
 
From: Aubrey Carter [mailto:aubreycarter@sbcglobal.net] 
Sent: Friday, July 1, 2016 9:29 PM
To: Clayton Stromberger <cstromberger@austin.utexas.edu>
Cc: Shakespeare at Winedale 1970-2000 Alums <winedale-l@lists.wikimedia.org>
Subject: Re: [Winedale-l] Russ McDonald
 
Thanks Mary
Such a very nice, kind man.
Aubrey

ACDO
906 E. 5th
Suite 210
Austin, TX 78702
512-656-3145


On Jul 1, 2016, at 9:07 PM, Clayton Stromberger <cstromberger@austin.utexas.edu> wrote:

Thanks Mary — Doc let me know a little while ago because I had just emailed him this morning that I was going to be staying with Gail and Russ in two weeks.  I was so looking forward to spending time with the two of them.  I’m in complete shock and just feel so sad for Gail and their son.  Gail, if you are reading these replies to Mary’s note, know that me and the whole family are sending all our love and that we’ll be in touch soon.  Just weeping with all of you for now --
 
c
 
 
 
On Jul 1, 2016, at 8:52 PM, Mary Collins <mmcollins50@yahoo.com> wrote:


Dear Friends,
 
  
    Our Titania from last summer's reunion has lost her real-life Oberon. Gail McDonald's husband, Russ McDonald, passed away today in London, after suffering a stroke earlier this week. Russ is a renowned Shakespearean and Renaissance scholar and teacher; for the last several years he was Professor of English Literature at Goldsmiths, University of London.  
 
Doc and I (Mary Collins) have spoken to Gail this week. She will be greatly buoyed by hearing from her Winedale friends via email. 
 
During the week, she said many lovely things about Russ. She mentioned his being joyful, generous, vivid,  smart.  She feels a little bit of peace thinking about how many people  benefited from his being alive, how many his life touched: students, readers, colleagues. She talked about his helping people see the world through his eyes, as a teacher and writer. She loves the way he saw the world, his optimism and joy, his love of beauty. He had an artist's attention to detail when reading poetry and explaining it. 
 
He was a wonderful, wonderful man. 
 
Love,
Mary
 
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