Russell Blue of Water Mill, an architect whose firm designed houses and spaces on the East End, in New York City, and across the tristate region, died of cardiac arrest on April 15 at Future Stars Tennis in Southampton. He was 64.
Mr. Blue, who went by Russ, was “known for his wit, sharp humor, athleticism, and respected professional contributions,” his family wrote. He was skilled on both the tennis court and the softball field, and had participated for over 25 years in the annual Artists and Writers charity softball game in East Hampton.
In 1999, he traveled with the Maidstoners softball team to Cuba, where they donated equipment and forged friendships with Cuban players.
His “philanthropic efforts extended to numerous causes,” his family said. A supporter of the Wounded Warrior Project, he also volunteered with the Ellen Hermanson Foundation, an organization that ensures access to state-of-the-art breast health services, where his wife, Sara, is the coordinator of special events. In 2016, he joined the board of Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach, a cause close to both his and his wife’s hearts, and became chairman of its board in 2020.
Mr. Blue was born to Larry Blue and Saundra Menaker on Dec. 27, 1959, at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City. He grew up in Woodmere in Nassau County with a brother and attended Lawrence High School in Cedarhurst before enrolling in the State University at Oneonta in 1977.
A passion for architecture led him to Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he graduated in 1984 with a degree in architecture. He eventually became LEED certified.
Under his leadership, the firm he founded, Blue Prints Architecture, was instrumental in creating over 50 houses and spaces on the East End and in New York City, among them commercial, retail, and hospitality projects, from restaurants to clubs and offices.
Mr. Blue married “the love of his life, Sara Mazlin,” on July 21, 1991. They had a son, Dylan, in 1996. “Russ’s family was his pride and joy, and he balanced his professional achievements with a deep commitment to community service,” they wrote.
“Russ’s love for music was a defining aspect of his life,” his family wrote. “A devoted fan of the Grateful Dead, he attended over 200 of their concerts.” He shared that love of music with his wife and son, frequently attending shows with them at the Stephen Talkhouse in Amagansett.
Mr. Blue, a regular on the South Fork art scene, was “known for his appreciation of the arts.”
In addition to his wife and his son, who live in Water Mill, Mr. Blue is survived by his mother, Saundra Menaker of Long Beach and Boca Raton, Fla., his brother, Darryl Blue, and his wife, Shanon, of Long Beach, and a nephew, Jesse Blue of Long Beach and Manhattan.
He was buried at the Independent Jewish Cemetery in Sag Harbor.
His family has suggested contributions to Maureen’s Haven Homeless Outreach, 28 Lincoln Street, Riverhead 11901, or the Ellen Hermanson Foundation at ellenhermanson.org or P.O. Box 4098, East Hampton 11937.
