How many wives has Bill Russell had? Looking at the personal life of Boston Celtics legend

The NBA community is still reeling from the loss of Bill Russell this past summer. At 88 years old, Russell passed away with his loving wife Jeannine by his side. As a civil rights leader and arguably the greatest athlete in US history, the void felt by Russell's absence ripples throughout all facets of society.

Although Russell was married to his wife Jeannine at the time of his death, she was his fourth wife. Throughout his life, Russell was married four times and had three children, all of whom were with his first wife and college sweetheart.

Russell married his first wife Rose in 1956, and the couple had their first child, William Jr., the year after. Two years later, the couple welcomed a second son, Jacob, before then having a daughter named Karen in 1962. After having three children, they ultimately divorced in 1973.

Bill Russell's wives after first divorce

Bill Russell wound up married to his second wife, Dorothy, in 1977. Despite the former Miss USA 1968 and Russell being happy at first, things took a turn south, and they divorced in 1980.

Russell's third wife, Marilyn Nault, ended up being his longest marriage from 1996 until her death in 2009. It took a while for Russell to recover, but in 2016 he tied the knot with his fourth wife Jeannine.

Although it isn't clear as to how they met, Jeannine was a professional golfer earlier in her life. Back in 2010, she won Player of the Year on the Canadian Women's Golf Tour.

Boston Celtics' tribute to Bill Russell, and Jeannine's reaction

After Bill Russell's passing, the Boston Celtics paid tribute to their legend. Prior to the start of the 2022-23 season, Jaylen Brown addressed the crowd, saying:

"Bill Russell was a great man, but what did that mean? What defined his greatness? Who he was as a mentor, a father, a member of his community, most certainly his 11 championships here in Boston, both playing and coaching. Bill Russell was a great man for what and who he stood for."

"During the peak of racial tensions in our society, he represented a type of nobility and honor that transcended sports. The amount of respect he receives from people will live on in eternity, and I'm grateful I was able to shake his hand. He was a true champion both on and off the court, and our gratitude is endless. "

On Twitter, Jeannine thanked everyone from the Celtics organization for their touching tribute.

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During his time as a collegiate athlete as well as a professional athlete, Russell earned numerous accolades. In college, he was a two-time NCAA champion and a two-time first-team All-American. As an NBA player, he was an eleven-time champion, winning all of his titles with the Boston Celtics.

During the 1968 and 1969 seasons, Russell won titles as a coach as well, adding to his already impressive resume. Between his impressive resume in sports and the difference he made in the world, Russell's loss will be felt for a long time.