Russell E. Cousins

Portsmouth, NH - Russell Ernest Cousins, age 76, a US Army Veteran of Vietnam, of Portsmouth, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026, at Portsmouth Hospital following a long period of declining health due to "Agent Orange" exposure and lasting complications from injuries sustained during his deployment. He is survived by his beloved soulmate and best friend of more than thirty years Julie E. (Gould) Cousins. They met in Bangor, Maine and were married on Valentine's Day 2004 at Sunset Key Island in Key West, Florida. During his last earthly days and final moments his favorite music played in the background, red roses, his favorite flower, were on display and Julie remained at his side.

He was born in Old Town, Maine on March 25, 1949, son of the late Merrill Alfred Cousins & Freda Pauline (Briggs) Cousins.

Russell attended Old Town High School and graduated from Higgins Classical Institute in Charleston, Maine.

He enlisted in the US Army in 1969 and completed basic training in Ft. Polk, Louisiana and primary helicopter flight training at Ft. Wolters, Texas. He went on to attend and graduate from the Warrant Officer Rotary Wing Aviator Course at Ft. Rucker, Alabama where he also earned his AFR certification and took the oath of office as a Warrant Officer. His oldest daughter, Rochelle, was born while he was in flight school and he was deployed to serve in Vietnam when she was only a few months old. While in combat he served as a helicopter pilot and commander flying "Huey" helicopters with Company B of the 227th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the 1st Cavalry Division. His many missions during the Vietnam War, included troop transport, search and rescue, supply runs, tactical reconnaissance and spraying the toxic herbicide "Agent Orange". One of his less dangerous missions was during a ceasefire on Christmas Day 1970 when he voluntarily piloted his Huey dressed in a Santa Suit to drop tubs of ice cream to troops who remained posted at remote battle encampments and not able to return to base camp for the holiday. He proudly wore his wings and the Army Aviation Badge and went above and beyond to serve and protect his flight crew and other soldiers in the air and on the ground. He was awarded the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross with bronze star near Phouc Vinh for bravery under fire and gallantry in action. He was awarded a Purple Heart, twice-awarded the Army Commendation Medal with bronze star, oak leaf cluster for multiple acts of heroism and meritorious service, twice-awarded the Air Medal for meritorious achievement and heroism while participating in frequent flight missions of combat support, search and rescue, the National Defense Service Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He attained the rank Chief Warrant Officer 2 and received an Honorable Discharge in 1971. He was a true and proud patriot who had an undying love of The United States and all it stands for.

Soon after his return to civilian life, he completed Police School near the top of his class and went on to serve as a Bangor, Maine Police Officer and later for private entities as an undercover security agent. During the 90s and prior to his retirement in 2012, he worked as a Real Estate Broker at Realty Executives in Bangor, ME and then Prudential Rush Realty in Dover, NH. He especially enjoyed helping first-time home buyers and found it immensely gratifying when they found their perfect home. His patience knew no bounds.

A talented musician and singer, Russell had a musical career that spanned several decades from the mid 70's-early 90's when he was a key band member, lead singer and bass guitar player with local bands in the Bangor area, Northern Maine, New Brunswick, Canada and a band that had a long run in Gainesville, Florida. He had great stage presence and was a musician's musician with a great ear. He often said that there were "only two kinds of music, good and bad". For a time, he worked at his good friend and bandmate's music store, Northern Kingdom Music where he formed lasting bonds and friendships with many other musicians. His musical ability and patriotism shone through even in the depths of his final battle of declining health when the week before his passing while in the hospital, he was able to perform his 'last set' by singing a beautiful rendition of the Star-Spangled Banner in the presence of his wife and hospital staff.

Russell loved his family and was very proud of his daughters, granddaughters and great grandchildren. He was a lover of all animals and spoke fondly of his pets, past and present. He would light up when his Maine Coon Cat kitten, Moxie was brought to visit him. He enjoyed cooking and was an outdoor enthusiast who relished fishing and golf particularly when he was doing those activities together with Julie. He especially loved the ocean and being on the water. Having owned several boats over the years, he enjoyed boating and fishing every chance he got whether in a stream, lake or ocean. Some of his favorite fishing excursions were in The Bahamas, Key West, FL and Sodus Point on Lake Ontario. He also was an avid student of history who enjoyed learning new things and keeping up on politics and current world events. He was a proud NE Patriots fan and would enjoy the "occasional" Bacardi & Diet Coke. He savored even life's smallest pleasures, taking time to appreciate the color of the evening sky, the bright green of spring, the sounds of birds singing, waves as they rolled ashore and the aromas of his favorite foods and flowers. He never missed an opportunity to tell Julie that she looked nice or to give her his praise, support and appreciation. He had a great sense of humor that he never lost even during his most trying moments. He was a good storyteller and conversationalist who formed close and lasting bonds with a wide array of friends. He was a generous, kind and considerate man, who was adored by many. Russell will be sorely missed and fondly remembered by all who were lucky enough to get to know him.

Besides his wife, Julie, he is survived by his daughters, and sons-in-law, Rochelle & Bert Rockwell, and Reagan & Tarence Williams; a step-daughter, Jodi Caswell and her partner Douglas Owens; two granddaughters, Makenzie Boone and her spouse Jared, and Marissa Lawson and her spouse Shawn, four great-grandchildren, Elijah, Emerson, Kennedy, and Parker; his brother, Robert Cousins; two nephews Keith Cousins and Craig Cousins and special niece, Kellie Cousins Stanhope. He was a brother of the late Ronald Cousins who passed in 2024.



SERVICES - A Burial with Military Honors will take place on Wednesday March 25, 2026, at 11:00 AM at the NH State Veterans Cemetery, 110 DW Highway, Boscawen, NH 03303. Those who plan to attend the burial are encouraged to meet in front of the funeral home at 9:00 AM to form a cavalcade behind his hearse to the cemetery. A Celebration of Life will follow at Wentworth by The Sea Resort in New Castle NH from 1:30PM to 4:30PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to the Dover, NH Humane Society (https:/popememorialcvhs.org) and Bangor, ME Humane Society. (https:/bangorhumane.org). Arrangements in care of the J. Verne Wood Funeral Home - Buckminster Chapel, 84 Broad St., Portsmouth, NH. For online condolences, visit: www.jvwoodfuneralhome.com .