Russell Douglas Mawson III (Dusty), 56, of Mohegan Lake and formerly of Cold Spring, passed away suddenly on September 1, 2026.

Born on March 22, 1970, in Philadelphia, to Susan Eagleson Mawson and the late Russell D. Mawson Sr., Russell was a true free thinker with an inherent inability to think inside the box, living life entirely on his own terms. Russell had legendary creativity and viewed the world through a unique lens where imagination knew no bounds and everything was simply a malleable and workable medium.

Whether he was drawing, painting, sculpting, creating computer animations, building stone fortresses, or designing space station models that he planned to scale up and live on one day, his creativity spawned from a seemingly limitless well of novel ideas. He was an inventor of gadgets and creator of the best Halloween costumes and rock band inspired painted denim jackets. As a Dungeon & Dragons Dungeon Master, he was a natural storyteller and a lifelong dreamer who invited everyone around him into his imaginative realms.

A 1989 graduate of Haldane High School, his early artistic talent won him a Garrison Art Center scholarship which he used to study and display his work at Columbia University. This was complemented with college courses in commercial art. Not long after, he illustrated the cover of a sci-fi novel and contributed ideas to a sci-fi TV show pilot. His diverse career path included working on local farms and acting as caretaker to the animals, molding glass at Beacon Glass, and crafting intricate jewelry and brass art molds at Hudson Valley Jewelers.

His gift for working with his hands seamlessly transitioned into a long professional life as a plumber and a dedicated apartment superintendent. During his career as a superintendent, Russell achieved his dream job working at Chateau Rive apartments in Peekskill. As King of his actual castle, one could only imagine the fantastic storylines he would conjure while walking through the halls.

Beyond his own creations, he was a passionate sci-fi junkie who loved Star Wars and Star Trek, proudly amassing an extensive collection of Baby Yoda and R2-D2 figures and confident in his assertion that Star Wars was the best movie ever made.

He was also an avid sailor and loved camping outdoors to go stargazing. He was always looking for an excuse to get out on the Hudson River or Lake Wallenpaupack with his siblings or anyone else who would join him. Sailing and camping fulfilled his need to exit the confines of structured society and let the wind and his imagination guide his course.

Russell was a cool, caring big brother to so many, and to be in his presence was to feel instantly seen. He was fully present, endlessly interested, patient, and supportive, with a special gift for making kids feel important by sharing and validating their wonder. With him, everything felt like a version of Hogwarts and the world was full of magic. He could always detect a common interest and carry any conversation into boundless possibilities. As a loving son, brother, uncle, and all-around family man, he was a warm-hearted soul and a kid at heart who gave the absolute best hugs.

Apart from his immense talents, Russell will be remembered for his kind and generous spirit. Generous to a fault and always willing to lend a hand to anyone in need, he gave of himself freely and without hesitation. Those who knew him will forever miss his great, infectious laugh, his warmth, and their tour guide into spectacular worlds of wonder.

Russell is survived by his mother Susan Mawson, siblings, Suki, Jack and Paul Mawson, Paul's wife, Catherine and their children, Max, Amelia and Zaya Mawson. He is also survived by his longtime girlfriend, Melissa Colasuonno.

Russell was predeceased by his father Russell Mawson Sr.

Friends may call on Tuesday September 8,2026 from 3-5pm at Clinton Funeral Home, 21 Parrott Street, Cold Spring.

In Lieu of flowers please consider a donation in Russell’s name to Fresh Artists

https://freshartists.harnessgiving.org/donate/?selected-method=one-time&amount=25&campaign_id=0