Tena Loveland Russ

Tena Russ, 83, of Lake Forest, IL, formerly of Winnetka and Kenilworth, passed away peacefully on July 30, 2026. Loving wife to Edmond V Russ. Dear mother to Dr. William Findlay, TR Findlay (Crystal) and to inseparable companion Cooper L. Russ. Loving stepmother to Jamie Lynn Russ Solanics, Dr Edmond V Russ (Melissa), Christina Thayer Russ, and the late Cory S Russ Rickerson (Bryon). Beloved grandmother to Scarlett Findlay, Elise Solanics Lanphier (Chris), Joseph Solanics (Amanda), Brendan Russ, Thayer Russ, and Nathan Solanics. Adored sister to the late Richard Loveland, the late Laura Loveland, William Loveland (Kitsy), Duke Botthof (Sharon), Rick Botthof (Debbie), and Lance Botthof (Linda).

A talented portrait artist, Tena’s artwork has been shown for decades throughout the North Shore. Tena was a member of the Screen Actors Guild as a commercial actress and model (she was the very first Lands’ End model). She also enjoyed national singing competition with the Melodeers Sweet Adelines Chorus. A skillful writer, Tena-with-an-e was awarded the James Jones Literary Society First Novel Fellowship Award, and the best Novel-In-Progress Award by the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Creative Writing Competition.

Tena adored her 15 years of dancing with the folks at Arthur Murray Lincolnshire, and would dance anywhere else at the drop of a hat. Tena met lifelong friends, and her husband of 44 years, dancing and acting on-stage at the annual Winnetka Community House Village Follies, where she was a Founding Member, and co-produced the show four times. For years Tena and her devoted therapy dogs volunteered at the Captain James A Lovell Federal Health Care Center, at autism and elderly care centers, and with K-9 Reading Buddies of the North Shore.

For 5 decades, Tena was her husband’s beloved partner, crew chief, photographer and road wench (her term) at car show and vintage race events.

Tena was a happy, loving, amusing, and caring soul to all who knew her. In lieu of flowers, Tena would have preferred donations in the name of Tena Loveland Russ to American Cancer Society, or to Emma Willard School, or to Winnetka Community House.

Arrangements entrusted with Chicagoland Cremation Options of Schiller Park, IL