Russell “Russ” Hopson, a devoted, hilarious and cheeky husband and dad, masterful chess player, musician, poet, chemist and cool t-shirt enthusiast, a man with an uncanny ability to recall and blurt out jingles from the 1970s, died peacefully on July 16, 2025, at HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center in Providence, RI.
Russ was born in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Fauquier County, Virginia to John
and Joanne Hopson, who pre-deceased him. He had wonderful memories of his days growing
up on the mountain with his brothers, parents and many cherished neighbors. Russ served in the Army for two years in Germany where he honed his love of great beer. He went on to receive a B.S. in chemistry from George Mason University in Fairfax and a Ph.D. from Northeastern University in Boston. Russ did not like the “big city” life and was fixing to move on from Boston when he met and fell for his future wife, Kate Bowden in 1999. He knew immediately that he needed to stick around. Always together from the time they met, Russ and Kate married in 2001, in the woods overlooking Squam Lake, New Hampshire.
Soon they made Providence, Rhode Island, their home and in 2003 Russ scored his “dream job” at the Brown University Chemistry Department. Russ served as Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility Supervisor with passion and enthusiasm for 22 years. Russ’s dear colleagues at Brown University credit him with positively impacting the culture of the department and with helping scores of students, professors and researchers to unlock knowledge with his expertise.
Russ was wonderful with children and babies - a “baby whisperer.” As their children, Lydia Sage and Tate grew, Russ and Kate fostered an environment with elaborate pretend-play, tickle-parties and adventures in nature. Russ’s love-language was “acts of service.” In his life, he showered his family with food, thoughtfulness and support. As a chess player, he was always thinking a few steps ahead and knew what would make everyone feel tended to. He embodied so many wonderful qualities - hardworking, whip smart, fun, a kind and true spirit with a sense of mischief wrapped in deep tenderness. Russ’s wife Kate, daughter Sage and son Tate were his truest loves, and with Kate, he created a world that contained a sense of magic realized, live music, laughter, stories, friends and chosen family. He was always delivering care with humor and the gentleness of a woodland troubadour.
Russ lived for nearly two years with glioblastoma after a diagnosis was made in fall of 2023. Russ and his family experienced a grueling and beautiful tango with terminal brain cancer. The love and harmony that they experienced during this journey was beyond measure and
palpable. Russ loved life and was deeply saddened to leave his family and this world yet
he leaned fully into love, humor, music and gratitude. With death as a teacher, Russ was humble and Zen. Almost to his last day, he told loved ones that he felt himself a lucky man.
When long-time friends learned of Russ’s transition to hospice and then his death, they shared
reflections such as, “Russ’s singing and playing on social media during covid lightened my heart and gave me something surprising and delightful to look forward to… it mattered to me that you were out there in the world strumming and singing and sharing it” and “people like Russ don’t come along every day he was such an impactful soul.” Truly, Russ leaves a legacy of love, music, magic, laughter and gratitude.
Russ is survived by his wife, Kate Bowden; his children, Lydia Sage and Tate Hopson; his brother, Kliff Hopson and Kliff’s wife, Gail; his brother Ken Hopson and Ken’s wife, Ashley; his brother-in-love (law), Peter Bowden and Peter’s wife, the Reverend Amy Freedman and their daughter, Liza; his nephew Isaak Hopson and Isaak’s wife, Kinneret and their daughter Violet; and by beloved extended family, chosen-family, friends, music band-mates and colleagues from the Brown University Chemistry Department.
We are grateful to Dr. Sasmit Sarangi, his team at the Brown University Health Cancer Institute
at Rhode Island Hospital, and the professionals at HopeHealth Hospice for their partnership,
medical care and kindness. Words cannot express our gratitude for the love, concern and support shown and expressed to us during these difficult times by our friends, family, community at First Unitarian Church of Providence, at the Brown University Chemistry Department and at Kate’s employer, Disability Rights RI.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Russ’s name to support the Cancer Institute at
Rhode Island Hospital at P.O. Box H, Providence, RI 02901 or online at
giving.brownhealth.org/RIH/cancer-institute.
A memorial service and celebration of life will be held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, at 3pm at
the First Unitarian Church of Providence, located at 1 Benevolent Street, Providence, RI 02906.
All are welcome. Street parking will be available. Please allow enough time to walk a few blocks. Leave your typical funeral attire at home - casual dress and bright colors are encouraged,
including cool t-shirts, and/or dressing as if you were going for an autumn walk in the woods or
out to hear or make music with friends.
For those unable to join us in-person, the service is scheduled to be live streamed on the YouTube Channel for the First Unitarian Church of Providence:
https://www.youtube.com/@firstunitarianchurchofprov3245
To send flowers or plant a tree in memory of Russell Hopson, visit the Tribute Store.
