Russell Harry Susag

Russell H. Susag, Ph.D., P.E., D.E.E.

Russell Harry Susag of Richfield, MN, passed away Jan. 14, 2026, at the age of 95. Russ was born in Minneapolis to Harry and Hilma Susag. He is preceded in death by his parents, sister Patricia (Donald) Holmen; his wife of 54 years, Mary Susag; his second wife, Darlene Timm; and daughter-in-law Lisa Susag. Russ is survived by his children, Amy (Michael) Maynard, Anne, Kathryn (Urban) Bauer, John, Karen (Sharon Jones) and James (Kimberly); grandchildren, Karl and Megan (David), Zachary and Noah, Bradley (Teresa), Grace (Greyson), Thomas (Michel) and Andrew; three great-grandchildren, Joseph, Aurelia and Micah, plus one on the way; and his sister, Lynn (Ahmed) El-Hoshy.

Russ attended Minneapolis public schools, graduating in 1948 from West High School, where he excelled in academics, swimming, football and gymnastics. He attended the University of Minnesota from 1948 to 1952 as an undergraduate, studying civil engineering and hydraulics, and was an active member of Triangle Fraternity (engineering), residing at the chapter house in Dinkytown. He also was active in Chi Epsilon (civil engineering), Tau Beta Pi (engineering) and the Society of Sigma Xi (research) fraternities.

From Aug. 31, 1952, to July 9, 1954, Russ served his country as a Second Class Petty Officer (Surveyor) with the U.S. Navy Seabees. The Seabees built airstrips, roads and supply depots in challenging environments. His military service during the Korean War included eight months stationed in the Philippines, contributing to the design and construction of the Naval Air Station at Cubi Point in Subic Bay.

Returning to the University of Minnesota on the GI Bill as a graduate student and teaching assistant from 1956 to 1965, Russ also served as a research fellow, studying the urban problems of water pollution and solid waste disposal. He earned a master’s degree in sanitary (environmental) engineering, with minors in hydromechanics and statistics, and a doctor of philosophy degree in sanitary (environmental) engineering with a minor in chemical engineering. In addition to his doctoral dissertation, “The Effect of Chlorination on the Deoxygenation of Sewage,” Russ authored 15 articles in professional journals.

After serving as an assistant professor of sanitary engineering in the U of M’s Department of Civil Engineering and Hydraulics from 1965 to 1968, Russ moved to the University of Florida in Gainesville, serving as an associate professor of environmental engineering from 1968 to 1970, teaching environmental principles and practices. He returned to Minnesota in 1970 to become the manager of quality control for the Metropolitan Sewer Board in St. Paul, directing plant laboratory services, river monitoring systems, industrial waste, and research and development programs.

In 1974 Russ joined 3M Company as manager of environmental affairs, rising to director of Environmental Regulatory Affairs, a position in which he was responsible for environmental site remediations and response to environmental legislation and regulations affecting 3M operations. Russ helped develop and promote “Pollution Prevention Pays,” 3M’s 3P program, emphasizing the prevention of generation of pollution at the source through product reformulation, process modification, equipment redesign, waste recycle or reuse. Russ retired from 3M after 22 years in June 1996 and started an environmental engineering consulting practice, SUSAG Environmental Consulting Inc., specializing in waste management, wastewater treatment and industrial environmental compliance.

Russ was a leader and a doer, and in addition to his 40-year career in academia, local government and private industry, was extremely active in industry, community and civic affairs.

In the field of engineering, Russ served as president of the Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers (MSPE), the Minnesota Federation of Engineering Societies (MFES) and the Central States Water Environment Association (CSWEA), and was active in the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) and the Minnesota Professional Engineers Foundation. He was designated a DEE, a Diplomate Environmental Engineer and life member of the American Academy of Environmental Engineers (AAEE). He also served on the Ramsey County Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the Minnesota Office of Waste Management Pollution Prevention Task Force and the Engineers Week Committee. He lent his expertise to many task forces over the years, including the I-494 Corridor Commission, the I-35W Solutions Alliance and served as a commissioner of the Metropolitan Waste Control Commission. For many years he was the program and lunch coordinator for the retired 3M engineers group and mentored youth participating in the MSPE Future City Competition.

In the 1970s Russ became involved with local and state politics, serving on many campaign committees and volunteering for politicians such as Congressman Bill Frenzel, U.S. Senators Dave Durenberger and Rudy Boschwitz and Governor Al Quie, as well as legislative, city council, county board and school board candidates. He served as finance chairman of the Independent-Republican (IR) Party’s Third Congressional District Committee, chairman of the IR Fifth Congressional District Committee, and chairman of Minnesota Senate Districts 37 and 40. Russ won a nonpartisan election to the Richfield City Council in 1992 and was re-elected in 1996, serving eight years representing Ward 2, the central part of the city, and as mayor pro-tem. It was during his council service that he became involved in the Richfield Sister City International Commission and traveled to Heredia, Costa Rica. He briefly ran for state Legislature in 1998, and was appointed to the Metropolitan Council in March 2003 by Governor Tim Pawlenty. Russ represented District 5, which included Richfield, Bloomington and Edina. As a Met Council member, he served as vice chair of the Environment Committee, a member of the Transportation Committee and chaired the council’s Inflow-Infiltration Task Force and served on the I-35W Crosstown Advisory Committee. A leader of the council’s moderate coalition, he cast the deciding vote to authorize the light-rail transit Green Line before resigning March 12, 2008, after five years of dedicated service to metropolitan area residents, to devote all of his time to caring for his wife, Mary, who had suffered a stroke in September 2007.

In Richfield, Russ served as a member of the Richfield Charter Commission, president of the Richfield Tourism Promotion Board, secretary/treasurer of the Richfield Optimist Club, commissioner and vice chair of the Richfield Planning Commission, and on the Richfield Charter Commission and the Richfield Housing and Redevelopment Authority. He also served as a trustee of the Richfield Foundation, a board member of the Friends of Wood Lake and the Friends of the Augsburg Park Community Library, treasurer of the Friends of the Hennepin County Library Council, and a member of the Richfield Chamber of Commerce and the Richfield Historical Society. He also was active in the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce and in the Citizens League, serving on its Airport Study Committee and Tax Committee. After he moved to Maplewood in 2015, Russ was appointed to the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.

Russ was a proud and active alum of the University of Minnesota and served as president of the Institute of Technology Alumni Society, on the IT board of advisors, and on the advisory committee for the U of M’s Civil and Mineral Engineering Department. He received the Outstanding Service Award to Triangle Fraternity for his chapter and alumni involvement. He also promoted higher education when he served on the Normandale Community College Foundation Board. Russ also was a proud Minneapolis West High graduate and organized many class reunions over the years.

Russ was born into the Methodist Church but chose to be baptized into the Roman Catholic Church July 28, 1956, at age 25 at St. Lawrence Church in Minneapolis. He was an active and involved parishioner at all the parishes he belonged to over the years in Minneapolis, New Brighton and Maplewood, Minnesota; Gainesville, Florida; Webster, Wisconsin; and especially at Assumption Catholic Church in Richfield, where he worshiped for more than 30 years, serving as Parish Council president, Capital Campaign Committee chair, lector, FunFest auction chair, deanery representative and a St. Vincent de Paul Society volunteer. He also was a Third Degree member of the Marian Council of the Knights of Columbus and assisted with bingo calling at the KC Hall in Bloomington. A strong believer in parochial education, all six of Russ’s children attended Assumption School and the Academy of Holy Angels in Richfield.

Russ was very proud of his military service. He belonged to the American Legion, Post 435, in Richfield, and the Arcade Phalen American Legion Post 577 in East St. Paul. He got together regularly for many years with other Minnesota Seabees who belonged to the Island X-2 Chapter and attended U.S. Navy reunions.

Russ was very proud of his Scandinavian heritage, being half-Swedish and half-Norwegian. He served as president and treasurer of the Norwegian National League, publicity chair of Norsota Lodge of the Sons of Norway, an organizer of Norway Day at Minnehaha Park in Minneapolis and a docent at the American Swedish Institute. He also participated in many luncheons for Norske Torske Klubben, a men’s club that promotes Scandinavian cultural heritage and scholarships. He treasured his trips to Norway and Sweden and organized reunions of Susag/Susegg and Anderson/Andersson relatives.

Russ received many awards over the years for his contributions to engineering, fraternal, community and civic organizations. Engineering awards ranged from the Engineer of the Year Award from the Florida Association of the Society of Civil Engineers to the Professional Engineers in Industry (PEI) Distinguished Service Award from the National Society of Professional Engineers and the Arthur Sidney Bedell Award from the Water Pollution Control Federation to the George J. Schroepfer Award from the Central States Water Pollution Control Association. The Schroepfer Award was named after his doctoral adviser at the University of Minnesota. Russ received the University of Minnesota Outstanding Achievement Award in 2007, an award conferred only on graduates who have attained unusual distinction in their chosen fields or professions or in public service, and who have demonstrated outstanding achievement and leadership on a community, state, national or international level. Because of that honor, his name is engraved in the University of Minnesota Alumni Wall of Honor, a wall near the McNamara Alumni Center on the U of M’s East Bank, stretching more than 200 feet along Oak Street from the corner of Oak and Washington Avenue in Minneapolis. Russ received WCCO Radio’s “Good Neighbor” Award in 1996, the Optimist of the Year Award in 2001 and the Gene and Mary Jacobson Outstanding Citizen Award from the city of Richfield in 2003. In 2018 when he lived at his cabin in Siren, Wisconsin, he was honored for his five years of volunteer service to Regional Hospice Services in Burnett County. He particularly treasured his visits with fellow veterans.

Russ enjoyed golfing at Tartan Park and Rich Acres, was an avid fan of the Minnesota Gophers football and basketball teams and the Minnesota Vikings. He enjoyed many water activities, such as boating, fishing, waterskiing, snowmobiling and ice fishing, and watching his children and grandchildren participate in baseball and softball, hockey and football games, plays and dance recitals, music and band concerts, and Scouting and religious activities. He was a proud father, grandfather and great-grandfather, reveling in their many achievements.