Through the tears and the heavy air, thick with the loss of a beloved wife, mother and friend, there was laughter, joy and love.

Even in death, Robin Russell’s ceaseless spouts of warmth and kindness, captured through memories shared by Elon University community members, permeated the room.

Robin Russell worked at the Elon University Bookstore and was heavily involved in activities related to the Colonnades Neighborhood.

She died in her sleep March 28, the night of her 47th birthday. In a “Gathering of Friends,” held Monday, staff, faculty and students gathered in the Numen Lumen  Pavilion’s Sacred Space and united through sharing memories, moments and thoughts of her.

Her husband, Alan Russell, associate professor of mathematics, lived in the faculty apartment in Colonnades E – Harper Hall as part of Alan Russell’s service as faculty director of the Colonnades Neighborhood.

“I went home and asked her [if she would be willing to move to Elon], and her entire face just lit up,” Alan Russell recalled. “Since we moved that Fourth of July weekend until now, she began breathing life through the students.”

But, it became clear that so many community members breathed life through her contagious joviality.

There were memories of her singing along to Bon Jovi and Boys II Men on the sales floor at the bookstore, teaching love languages, cheering for Elon during basketball games and decorating a co-worker’s office with “Lordy, Lordy, look who’s 40!”

Her daughter, Michelle Russell, was also in attendance and noted how her mother was always filled with joy and never failed to decorate anything and everything.

To her co-workers at the bookstore, Robin Russell’s legacy will be one of humor, warmth and kindness.

“Robin had a wonderfully bubbly laugh that seemed to fill the room, and she made sure to laugh often,” they wrote in her honor. “When she wasn’t laughing, Robin was singing.”

Sophomore Katie Soraghan, a resident assistant in Colonnades Neighborhood, said Robin Russell was one of the nicest people she knew.

“Everyday when I walked to Acorn, she waved to me from the bookstore window,” she said. “I got the opportunity to get to know her throughout the year as she lived in Colonnades — she invited us to dinner and made us feel so much at home.”

Soraghan shared how Robin Russell would consistently call her “cookies-n-creme” after she asked specifically for the flavor during one of their ice cream parties.

“I’ll always have that with her,” she said.

Other members of the Colonnades Neighborhood staff shared how they always felt like they had been gifted with two faculty directors and how she worked tirelessly to organize events and support the students in as many as ways possible. Her tendency to work above and beyond to make everyone feel at home was apparent in all that she did.

“Robin was very much a part of the campus and was proud to represent and serve Elon,”  Carly Mayer, Store Manager said.  “She was a loyal employee, a lovely woman and a great friend who will forever be missed.”