- April 19, 2024
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Dozens of vehicles drove by to pay tribute to Russell. Photos by Brian McMillan
Josh Pilecki and Daniel Skinner. Photos by Brian McMillan
Evana Fretterd, Ginger Smith and Fetu Kiliona Kalawaianui. Photos by Brian McMillan
Amy Ferrer, Linda Longo and Katie Kastner. Photos by Brian McMillan
Taylor Aquino. Photos by Brian McMillan
Kylie Bruckert. Photos by Brian McMillan
Mervyn Gong. Photos by Brian McMillan
Responding to tragedy with a fight song, Flagler Palm Coast High School hosted a memorial event Dec. 11 for Principal James “Tom” Russell, who died Dec. 9 after a three-week battle with COVID-19.
Dozens of cars lined up in the parking lot at FPC and honked their horns as they drove past the football stadium and listened to the band play the fight song. The plan was for the lights at the stadium to shine in the night for 20 minutes, 20 seconds in his honor.
It was a fitting tribute, said Evana Fretterd, Student Government Association activities director. When the pandemic prevented students from returning to school after spring break at the end of the 2019-2020 school year, Russell was extremely sensitive to the members of the Class of 2020, who were missing out on prom and grad activities.
“He made it a point to start something,” Fretterd recalled, “so they had Friday Night Lights.”
Every Friday, she said, Russell would go to the stadium and talk to a staff member on Facebook Live, sharing information and encouragement with the FPC families.
The Dec. 11 event was intended to commemorate his spirit of inclusion and love for the students by hosting another Friday Night Lights in his honor.
Russell also started a tradition of having the fight song played during the morning announcements, which is why the band played on Dec. 11.
Fretterd said that as she organized the drive thru and recruited people to help, everyone was enthusiastic.
“There were a lot of yeses in a time of nos,” she said.
Fretterd was one of many who told similar stories of Russell’s genuine love for the staff and students. After serving as superintendent of Volusia County Schools for several years, Russell was hired as FPC’s principal only before the 2019-2020 school year, and yet, Fretterd said, “You would think he was here for 20 years. His impact is obvious.”
Ginger Smith, a 1997 FPC alumna who is now the front desk receptionist, said, “He loved his support staff. He really cared about us."
Fetu Kiliona Kalawaianui, registrar, called him “a true, genuine person. He made me feel like my job was important.”
"He always knew who I was. I don’t know how he did it, but he just knew."
AMY FERRER
Assistant Principal Amy Ferrer first met Russell when she worked at Mainland High School, when Russell was superintendent in Volusia.
“He was inherently empathetic,” Ferrer said during the Dec. 11 drive-thru event. “He always knew who I was. I don’t know how he did it, but he just knew. He knew my daughter’s name.”
Teacher Michael Rinyu also told a story of how Russell proved he cared. Soon after Russell was hired, he drove through Orlando traffic just to see Rinyu and two students speak at a conference for about 15 minutes. It was the first time Rinyu met Russell.
“He told us what a great job we did,” Rinyu said. “It immediately showed me what kind of a person he was. He went out of his way to tell us we were important. He listened more than he talked. You always felt important.”
Bookeeper Linda Longo said Russell always asked the support staff, “How can I help you?”
Exceptional Student Education teacher Katie Kastner called him “genuine.” “He wanted to know what you did, but it was more important to know you as a person,” she said.
Eleventh-grade trumpet players Josh Pilecki and Daniel Skinner also had fond memories of Russell.
“He was inspirational to the whole school,” Skinner said. “He brought up our spirits.”
“He knew our names,” Pilecki said.
As the cars finished driving through the bus loop and the lights were turned off, one student remained: Allie Metz.
Metz, a member of SGA, was walking the bus loop and taking down the banners that she had helped create earlier in the day to honor Russell. She felt sad, but there was something more.
“I also see such a great thing happening,” she said. “FPC is a family, so it’s great to see that we did something like this for someone passing who was so important.”
She will remember Russell for being a constant presence in the cafeteria, talking to students.
“He would ask how your day was,” she recalled. “He would see you at an SGA event, and he would ask questions, and you would feel important. He would make you feel singled out in a good way. He made people feel important.”
