Russell E.

Windsor, Md

Russell E. Windsor, MD, age 70, tragically passed away due to a fatal cycling accident in Amagansett, NY on July 3, 2022.  Russ was born on March 13, 1952 to Alberta and Russell W. Windsor in Philadelphia, Pa, where he was raised and attended LaSalle High School.

Russ' fascination with medicine and passion for helping people were innate interests that were core to his personality.  Russ knew he wanted to be a physician from a young age and was often found studying anatomy textbooks for fun as a child.  In pursuit of this goal, he went on to attend Georgetown University for his Bachelor's degree and Georgetown University School of Medicine for his Doctor of Medicine degree.  He then completed his orthopaedic surgery residency training at the University of Pennsylvania and did a Fellowship in Knee Reconstructive Surgery at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) under John Insall, MD, one of the original developers and father of total knee replacement surgery.

Dr. Windsor then continued as an Attending Orthopedic Surgeon in the ARJR Service at HSS in New York City for over 35 years and served as a Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine for over 25 years. Dr. Windsor was the Chief of the Knee Service from 1991 to 2006.  He was a member of the International Society of Arthroscopy Knee Surgery and Orthopaedic Sports Medicine (ISAKOS), the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons (AAHKS), the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), and the American Knee Society where he served as president in 2005.  He was also an enthusiastic and supportive International member of the European Knee Society.

Dr. Windsor had a profound impact on the world of orthopaedic surgery.  He presented his work and served as faculty member in over 250 national and international seminars, wrote over 60 original publications, and contributed chapters in reconstructive surgery in 40 textbooks.  He was a pioneer and designer of several total knee replacement systems, including the Rotating Hinge Knee and the Zimmer Unicompartmental Knee.  He was keenly interested in surgical applications of computer-assisted navigation and robotics in knee replacement, and the treatment of complex deformities about the knee.  For 15 years, Dr. Windsor helped educate orthopaedic and trauma surgeons in Eastern Europe through the American Austrian Foundation Salzburg Seminars, Open Medical Institute.  Additionally, he was a mentor to hundreds of residents and fellows throughout his career.  Not only did he advance the field through innovation, research and education, but through surgery, he also improved the quality of life for thousands of patients.  Dr. Windsor recently retired from HSS in 2021.

Russ' passions extended beyond his professional career.  He was an accomplished classical pianist and avid listener of orchestral classical music.  He was a long time supporter of Carnegie Hall and the Salzburg Music Festival.  Bruckner, Rachmaninoff and Beethoven were among his favorite composers.  Russ loved playing, coaching, and watching sports, particularly baseball, rowing and cycling, and he actively shared this interest with his family.  Russ also enjoyed the finer things in life, including fine dining, wine, and travel.  Most notably, he was a wine connoisseur, amassing a collection of over 4,000 bottles from all over the world, and was a proud member of the New York chapter of the Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin.

Above all of his professional accomplishments and hobbies, Russ was most proud of his family.  He was a devoted husband to his wife, Theresa Windsor; a loving father to his daughter, Gillian Windsor and her husband, Matt Wilson;  his son, Russell J. Windsor; and his son, Eric Windsor and his wife, Madeline Lang.  He was most excited to recently have become a grandfather to his first grandson, Jackson Windsor Wilson.  He is also survived by his older sister, Andrea Windsor.

The family is planning to honor Russ with a Celebration of Life, which will take place this Fall of 2022 in New York City.  Details will follow as they become available.

"Seek him in the heavens; Above the stars must He dwell" - Ode to Joy, Ludwig van Beethoven, Symphony No. 9