Michelle Logan McLean-Russell, 66
Michelle Logan McLean-Russell, 66, of Marion, MA and Pacific Grove, CA, passed away peacefully on January 20, 2026 in Salinas, California from a sudden brain aneurysm. Her last week was spent doing her favorite things: enjoying the California sun with her dog Stella, riding her bike, eating breakfast with sheep, spending time with friends around her firepit, drinking excellent coffee, and reading books in peaceful places.
Michelle was born on September 19, 1959 in Dorchester, MA, to Claire and Joseph McLean, with four older siblings: Susan, Nancy, Margaret, and Joseph. She grew up in Cohasset and attended UMass Dartmouth, where she majored in art and psychology. Michelle earned her master's degree in psychology from Lesley University in Massachusetts. Friends from college introduced her to Sanford Hewitt "Hew" Russell, whom she married in 1987, and together they traveled the world, windsurfed, snowboarded, and sailed.
Together they moved to California in 1988, where Michelle had all kinds of adventures. These included earning her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Palo Alto University, working with children around the state as a clinical psychologist specializing in post-traumatic play and earning the nickname "Dr. Fun," snowboarding in feet of powder at Tahoe and earning the nickname "Princess of Powder," and giving birth to their two children, Fen and Lulu, and earning the nickname "Mom".
In 2001, Michelle survived a life-threatening brain tumor thanks to surgery and ongoing care from Dr. Mitch Berger at UCSF, giving us the gift of 25 more years together. Michelle and Hew returned to Massachusetts in 2001 to be closer to family, moving into their summer home in Marion full-time. Michelle loved kayaking in Sippican Harbor and stopping to visit “her” osprey nests, growing her beautiful garden filled with peonies (her favorite flower), taking trips to Boston's art museums, drinking coffee in the morning and eating popcorn in the evening, meeting with her book club, witty banter, walks with friends, and bike rides to the beach. She loved beautiful things; her closet was always full of fabulous clothes, and her spaces well-curated and beautifully decorated.
Michelle was a loving, creative, vibrant person who cared deeply for her friends and family and always had ideas for how to make everything fun, from her famous annual Christmas party to impromptu themed picnics and everything in between. Family was always the highest priority in Michelle’s life, and she gained great joy from surrounding herself with cousins, nieces, nephews, and distant relatives. Michelle will be missed dearly by all those who love her.
Visiting hours will be held Sunday, February 1, 2026 from 1-5PM at the Saunders-Dwyer Mattapoisett Home for Funerals, 50 County Rd., Mattapoisett. Her Funeral Mass will be held Monday, February 2nd at 11 AM at Saint Anthony’s Church, 26 Hammond St., Mattapoisett. Burial will be held privately. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes donations to be made to the Neurosurgery Brain Tumor Fund at UCSF (https://giving.ucsf.edu/fund/neurosurgery-brain-tumor-fund). For directions and guestbook, visit www.saundersdwyer.com.
