Obituary of Russell Gene Hazeltine

Russell Gene Hazeltine, 64, of Conneaut passed away at his home surrounded by family on Monday, October 27, 2014 from a Parkinson's Plus Syndrome known as Cortical Basal Ganglionic Degeneration (CBGD). He was born in Conneaut, Ohio on November 8, 1949, the son of Howard and Martha (Huston) Hazeltine. Russell graduated from the Edgewood Sr. High School Class of 1967 and received his Bachelors in Education from Kent State University and Masters in Education Administration from Edinboro University. Mr. Hazeltine had been employed as a manager with Sohio Five-Points in Ashtabula and as a driving instructor with Mentor Driving School. He was employed with the Conneaut Area City School as a social studies teacher, until 2005 when he quit teaching due to declining health. While at CACS, Russ was a past track coach at Rowe Middle School and was past advisor for Key Club (TASC Troop) promoting teen community service with the Animal Protective League, former Inn-Conneaut and Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland. In 1999-2000 he was recognized by the Martha Holden Jennings Foundation for "fostering the best in young people through education." Russell was a lifelong member of The Federated Church of East Springfield, Pennsylvania, where he was in the teen choir during his youth, served as a controller in the radio room from his mid-teens to his mid-thirties and as an usher until he was prevented by declining health. Mr. Hazeltine was a past member of the Gideon's and the Conneaut Education Association, OEA and NEA, where he served in several capacities. He was passionate about teaching Social Studies through stories and life experiences. Russ traveled to Haiti, Jamaica, Italy and Israel through church-sponsored tours and traveled the U.S. with his wife. He enjoyed the outdoors and working the land the "old-fashioned way" by using his grandfather's hand tools. Russell was a shining example of 1st Corinthians Chapter 13 and showed daily that "Love Never Fails." Mr. Hazeltine is survived by wife Elizabeth (Peppard) Hazeltine, whom he married on August 23, 2000; sisters, Marjorie Emerson of Ashtabula and Mabel (Harvell) Ellzey of Conneaut; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents. A graveside service will be held, Wednesday, October 29, 2014 at 2:00 P.M. at the East Springfield Cemetery, with Rev. Dr. Edward Huntley, of The Federated Church, officiating. The family requests no flowers, and memorials in memory of Russell may be given to the WLD Ranch, 7351 Woolsey Road, Girard, PA, 16417. The Thompson-Smith-Nesbitt Funeral Home, 345 Main St., Conneaut is honored to serve the family.