Russell Gordon Eldridge

Portsmouth, - Russell Gordon Eldridge, 67, of 239 Fairview Lane Portsmouth, died Sunday, October 13, 2002 at Newport Hospital Newport, RI.He was the husband of Julie Bernado Eldridge. Born in Barrington, RI on Feb. 3, 1935, he was the son of Annabelle Booth Eldridge of Middletown and the late Irving R. Eldridge.In 1957 Mr. Eldridge Graduated from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point, with a BS in Marine Engineering. As a cadet, he sailed to South and East Africa aboard the Robin Lines; from NY to Central America aboard Grace Lines: from NY to the East Coast of South America with Moore-McCormack Lines; and finally on a Socony Mobil tanker supplying fuel to the Northeast. It was aboard this ship that he found out he was a fair-weather sailor, so after graduation he relocated to New Orleans and Sailed as a Marine Engineer with Delta Lines from New Orleans to the East Coast of South America.Mr. Eldrige returned in 1959 and worked for several years as a Fire Protection Engineer with the factory Mutual System. He changed to valve Engineering and eventually to valve sales management. As a regional sales Manager for several valve manufacturers, he worked with representatives and distributors, and he was responsible for territories in the Northeast, along the East Coast, and for some product lines in the entire nation he retired in 1994. In 1962 he married the former Julie Bernardo from Bristol. They traveled extensively and celebrated Julies retirement in 2000 with a trip to Korea and Bali. They have lived in various East BAy communities and currently reside in Portsmouth with their cat, Tashi. He is survived by his wife Julie Eldridge of Portsmouth, RI, his mother Annabelle L. Eldridge of Middletown, RI and his brother Irving R. Eldridge of Roswell, GA. A Memorial service will be held on Friday, October 18 at 11:00am in the First Congregational Church, 291 High Street, Bristol. Burial will be private.Donations may be made to the Robert Potter League for Animals, PO Box 412, Newport, RI, 02840.