Lunt
Russ Lunt, a South Portland resident known for attending every City Council meeting, recently passed away and was lauded by his fellow residents at Tuesday’s meeting.
“I admit that when I first saw him in action, a long time ago, I didn’t get Russ … He was careless and anecdotal and unselfconscious. He played inside baseball all over the place,” said resident Jeff Steinbrink.
But he soon realized that was an inaccurate first impression.
“He came to every council meeting. He was always here,” Steinbrink said. “A witness, an advocate, a kind of shock absorber, a kind of chorus. I never got a peek into Russ’ notebook – the journal he carried with him and referred to when he spoke – but I imagine it as sort of a South Portland encyclopedia.”
Brendan Williams said Lunt brought welcome humor and insight to council meetings, which are often “long … very boring” and “very political.”
“Russ Lunt literally went up on every (opportunity for) comment, including the delivery of cement to a driveway that most of us don’t even know about,” Williams said, later adding, “I hope we will be able to celebrate his memory as we move forward.”
John “Linky” Erskine, who was honored at Tuesday’s meeting for retiring after 40 years working for the city, noted his long relationship with Lunt.
“Russ and I worked together for 25 years. Every time I saw him, he’d say, ‘When are you getting done? When are you getting done?'” Erskine said. “I hope he’s watching this because I’m getting done.”
Steinbrink said Lunt’s usual seat in the audience at council meetings ought to remain empty for some time.
“I hope that for a long, long time, may we think we hear an echo in this town and especially in this chamber,” Steinbrink said, “and may we understand that echo to say, ‘Russ Lunt, Brigham Street.'”
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