Russell Stendell was a quiet achiever who tackled every challenge the ABC handed to him with style and integrity. The Head of Technology and Digital Radio Planning, one of the gentlemen of radio, passed away this week. Former ABC Director of Radio Peter Loxton spoke at his ABC retirement function last month, and has allowed radioinfo to reprint those comments as a tribute to Russell, who died of cancer. Russell’s Memorial Service wil be held on Friday (February 17, 2012) at the Refectory Room in the Holme Building, Science Road, University of Sydney from 10.15 a.m.

Russell joined the ABC at Double J in 1976, a year after it started and two years after I joined the Rural Dept in 1974. He has continued to contribute in the 15 or so years since I left the ABC.

My comments are probably in the territory of ancient history from 25 to 15 years ago. I first got to know Russell when I moved to Sydney from Melbourne as Controller of Programs (Radio) in 1986 and in my later roles as Controller RN/ABC FM, GM Metros, Regs & Triple J, and from 1992 as Director Radio.

I’m sure a lot of people will be aware of his recent work, including with Digital Radio, and quite a few here would be aware of his time with Double J in the early years.

My work with Russell really started with the implications of planning for the Second Regional Radio Network (SRRN), involving Federal Government funding for a massive expansion of transmitters and studios around Australia.

The essential aim was to give all Australians, wherever they lived, access to at least two ABC Radio services – Local Radio (or Regional Radio as we called it then) and Radio National. They had been receiving a rather odd and eclectic mix of Metros, Regionals & RN on one AM station, with access to Classic FM (or ABC FM as it was then) for the fortunate few.

The new transmitters and new studios required a completely fresh look and planning for the highest possible quality of local, State-based and national services for regional audiences. This all led to a scheduling and programming revolution. Russell played a critical role in the planning of schedules and programs for Local Radio in NSW and around the nation through Network Services, and later also in the important new role for State Managers of Regional Stations, as well as in the formation of a NSW Branch which hadn’t existed previously.

Russell is one of those rare people who can see the big picture, while having an eye, and an ear, for detail. I found he also readily offered and built on new ideas, adapted to new challenges, and was a very effective communicator.

Russell combines these talents with a range of exceptional personal qualities including: intelligence, creativity, insight, commitment, honesty, integrity, loyalty, patience, warmth, generosity, empathy, a great sense of humour and being a thoroughly decent and likeable person.

I found Russell to be a special person who I, and everyone I knew, learned from and enjoyed working with. Also, while he was always polite and respectful, he had no hesitation in questioning and challenging, which inevitably led to better results. We worked quite closely together as part of diverse teams on everything from national and State scheduling grids, reshaping budgets, and all the practical details of individual managers, staff and programs.

He has a special ability to tune in to the needs of listeners, including those living in regional and remote Australia, for all of ABC Radio.

Russell has made an enormous contribution, especially to regional audiences, and most specifically in NSW. His professional broadcasting talents and personal qualities led me to call on him a number of times to take on challenges, often related to developing ideas into strategies and plans, and then implementing them. A few examples include:

Russell was a valuable sounding board for me in planning the expansion and networking of Triple J into a national network from 1990, and then later with the launch of regional Triple J.

I asked Russell to manage the tricky planning and launch of Darwin’s new Metro station 8DDD, where once again his abilities to work with and lead people through major change, and his music knowledge, were invaluable.

His knowledge of music and understanding of creating networks led me to also call on him as part of a small team, nearly 20 years ago in the early 90s to develop a suite of 20 digital (mostly) music channels, so we would be ready for Pay Audio alongside Pay TV, and especially for DAB and digital radio.

News Radio was another example of Russell’s adaptability and value. He contributed actively to our planning to occupy a vital niche that fitted the ABC’s content capability, combined with the production revolution made possible through digital. He worked closely with Ian Wolfe and the team and made a great contribution to the building yet another successful ABC network.

Russell [made] outstanding and diverse contributions to ABC Radio. He, and all his family, should also feel especially proud of the very high regard in which he is held as a person.

Everyone I know who knows Russell, likes him a lot, or loves him. I’ll never forget his kindness when our son Tim at age 6 was critically ill with a brain abscess.

Russell, you’ve told me about how much you appreciate what the ABC has given to you. I’m pleased to be part of acknowledging the huge contribution and value you have given to the ABC and to many Australians. Thank you and congratulations from me on all you’ve contributed and achieved.

In other tributes:

Andy Nehl posted this message on Twitter: RIP Russell Stendell who made a big contribution to Australian music, radio & film in his work with 2JJ, ABC Radio & Sydney Film Festival

And Norman Swan and Mark Colvin said: Russell was decent, straight, tough minded when he needed to be and deeply humane.

Director of ABC Radio Kate Dundas visited Russell Stendell just hours before he passed away and wrote this message to radioinfo readers and ABC staff:

I went over to their house and sat with him for a while. Sophie was surrounded by family and there were a couple of others like me that she had called and who had come to see him. He had been talking about getting a haircut less than 24 hours before and sending me emails (he emailed to say that he loved the Tivoli radio we gave him.)  So it was very quick in the end.

Although he hadn’t had any pain medication during the day, the doctor was certain that he wasn’t in any pain. He was breathing with some difficulty but was essentially sleeping. Although I know he couldn’t hear me, I talked to him about all sorts of things including how much he was loved by all of us.

I thought I’d be back there to see him again, but he died about an hour and a half later. It’s very hard to believe and I know all of you will feel a sense of loss and shock.

An internal ABC Tribute commented:

Russell Stendell was a radio man to his back teeth. It was his medium, first and last. When he was offered the scenic surrounds of the Level 7 roof garden for his retirement party, he was happy enough for his colleagues from other Divisions to be invited, but not on foreign turf – they could come to see him on his own patch. And they did – well over a hundred workmates, past and present, representing all Divisions in the ABC he loved, packed into the Radio Management area in February for a night of memories and speeches, the best and funniest of which was given by Russell himself.

From the brave new world of Double J to the new dimension of digital radio, Russell has left a profound mark on the ABC, and will be deeply missed by his friends and colleagues. He leaves behind his wife Sophie Townsend and their daughters Claire and Anna, and our thoughts are with them.