DROWNE IV, H. Russell

Drowne IV, H. Russell H. Russell Drowne IV, 58, passed suddenly Monday afternoon at his Phoenix, Arizona home. Loving husband, devoted father, grandfather, and godfather. Mr. Drowne, a long- time resident of Upper Nyack, had retired to Phoenix with his wife Laura five years ago. While in New York, he served as deputy mayor, trustee, fire and police commissioner, and trustee of the Village of Upper Nyack for many years. Mr. Drowne also served as a board member for the Nyack-ValIey Cottage Little League and was a member of the Nyack Field Club. Mr. Drowne served as Director of the Annual Fund and President of the Alumni Executive Committee at The Hill School, a prep school in Pottstown, PA from which he graduated in 1964 after transferring from Nyack High School. From The Hill, Mr. Drowne went to Syracuse University where he lettered in tennis and crew and was a member of the Delta Upsilon fraternity, graduating with a B.S. in Industrial and Personnel Relations in 1968. Mr. Drowne also held an advanced certification from Cornell University in human resources. Professionally, Mr. Drowne spent 27 years in the employ of New York Telephone, later Bell Atlantic then NYNEX, advancing from, salesman to Director of Human Resources. Mr. Drowne is survived by his immediate family: wife, Laura; son Chris, daughter-In-law Robin and grandson Rusty; and sons Scott and Matt. He is also survived by his brother Michael, wife Kathleen and their children Annie and Jack. Memorial services will be held at Grace Episcopal Church in Nyack this Sunday, December 21 at 2:30 PM with a private internment the following day at Oak Hill Cemetery, also in Nyack. In lieu of flowers, donations are being accepted by the Empire Hook & Ladder, North Broadway, Upper Nyack, NY 10960 or by the Children's Crisis Center East Valley Inc., PO Box 4114, Mesa, AZ 85211 Published in the Arizona Republic on 12/19/2003.