Rose Swisher is legendary basketball player Bill Russell’s first ex-wife. She was the first of Russell’s four wives and was married to the NBA star for almost 17 years. Let’s find out more about the Swisher and her life.
Who was Rose Swisher?
Full name: Rose Swisher
Gender: Female
Date of birth: 27th December 1936
Date of death: 11th September 2014
Rose Swisher’s Age: 78 years old at the time of her death
Ethnicity: Mixed (African-American)
Nationality: American
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Sexual Orientation: Straight
Religion: Christianity
Marital Status: Divorced
Rose Swisher’s Ex-husband: William Felton “Bill” Russell
Rose Swisher’s Children: William Fenton Russell Jr. (deceased), Jacob H. Russell, Karen Russell
Education: University of San Francisco
Famous for: Being Bill Russell’s first wife
Profession: Model, Photographer
Rose Swisher’s Personal Life
Rose Swisher was born on December 27, 1936, and was widely known for being Bill Russell’s first wife. Rose Swisher and Bill Russell first met in college at the University of San Franciso. Swisher was a nursing student while Russell was studying physical education.
They fell in love in college and were together for a long time until they tied the knot on December 9, 1956. Bill was at the peak of his NBA career while the duo were married to each other.
The couple were together for 17 years before they decided to part ways in 1973. They shared three kids- Jacob Russell, William Russell Jr, and Karen Russell. After her divorce from Russell, Swisher kept to herself and lived a private and secluded life. She did not remarry and remained single until she died in September 2014 at the age of 78.
Bill Russell: The NBA Legend
While Rose Swisher chose privacy after her divorce, Bill Russell went ahead and got married thrice after his first divorce. Russell was married to Dorothy Anstett from 1977 to 1980, Marilyn Nault from 1996 to 2009, and Jeanine Russell from 2016 to 2022. Russell did not divorce Jeanine, he died at the age of 88 in July 2022. Even though Bill Russell was married thrice after Swisher, he did not have any more kids with his other wives.
Russell also lost his son William Russell Jr at the age of 58 to stomach cancer. His second son Jacob Russell leads a simple life in Seattle, Washington where he works as a metro transit operator. Swisher and Russell’s youngest daughter Karen went on to earn a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School after completing her bachelor’s from Georgetown University.
Throughout his NBA career, Russell achieved the prestigious title of NBA Most Valuable Player a total of five times. He led the Boston Celtics to an incredible 11 championships in a career spanning 13 seasons. Bill Russell wasn’t just a high scorer; his defensive prowess was equally legendary. The 6’10” centre was known for his shot-blocking abilities, a trait that intimidated opponents and gave the Celtics a robust defensive backbone.
His influence extends far beyond his skill on the court. His appointment as the NBA’s first African-American head coach was a groundbreaking moment in sports history. He was a trailblazer for racial equality, showing that talent and leadership know no colour. Russell’s commitment to equality and justice has left a lasting impact on the NBA and beyond. In 1975, Russell was honoured with induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Netflix also released a two-part documentary last year following the legendary NBA player’s life on and off the court describing it,
“On the court, Bill Russell was a force to be reckoned with – a champion who sacrificed himself for his teammates and love of basketball. Off the court, Bill Russell was a force in the fight for human rights – marching with the great Martin Luther King Jr., pioneering NBA boycotts and fighting against racism. BILL RUSSELL: LEGEND tells the remarkable life and legacy of an NBA superstar and civil rights icon.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ryHHifvsVwQ
