A large crowd turned out for the trivia night that served as a fundraiser in memory of Paul Deveau. $9,200 was raised and it will be used for scholarships at Russell High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School. Courtesy Photo

RUSSELL – I have heard it said that the secret to eternal life is to be remembered once you’ve passed on. If that is true, then Russell Photographer Paul Deveau will certainly live forever.

Paul Deveau passed away on July 2, 2026, with his family by his side. From what those who knew him have shared, the photo that accompanied his obituary was fitting; Paul, sitting relaxed in a comfortable chair, the hint of a smile on his face, and his left hand raised, palm outward, as if saying “I’ll see you later.” We can only hope that is the case.

The number of posts on Facebook in response to word of his death hints at his popularity in and around the Russell area. Dig just a bit deeper, and you realize how Paul Deveau found a way into the hearts of so many.

Cindy Saucier, herself an important part of the fabric of Russell spoke of how much he was admired by so many people. “He was so kind and generous,” said Saucier.  “He went to community events and took pics mostly free of charge. He was the official photographer for the Trivia nights. He also did historical vignettes and video and filmed interviews with Russell Seniors.”

Saucier also shared that in addition to being a photographer, Paul Deveau had been a teacher, which led to the unique way in which he was being remembered.

Connie Johnston is known in Russell as the Trivia Queen, because of the many trivia nights she hosts as fundraisers for local organizations. In that capacity she came to know Paul Deveau quite well. “Not only was he an amazing photographer but also a great guy,” said Johnston. “ I’ve never met anyone so willing to help in any way he could.  It’s going to be a different world without him in it.”

“I still see Paul roaming the room on nights of our trivia’s taking candid shots of the attendees.  There aren’t many people in attendance tonight who haven’t had their photo taken by Paul, many using them as their profile picture.  All funds raised tonight will be used as bursaries for students pursuing their post-secondary education for both Russell High School and St. Thomas Aquinas High School.  Paul was a retired secondary school teacher and would be so proud to be a part of the future of these young people.”

A wonderful gesture, and one that would certainly be appreciated. An extra bit of monetary support is always welcome by a student headed to college or university. You can imagine then how wonderfully exciting it is to report that  $9,200 was raised in memory of Paul Deveau.

We don’t have control over how long we live, but we certainly can decide how we will live. Paul Deveau, it seems, chose to live each day fully that to treat each person as someone special, and in the end, someone special is just how he will be remembered.