During his days as a basketballer in the National Basketball (NBA) league, Bill Russel was known as one of the most prolific players in the sport. He carved a niche for himself as a force to be reckoned with, both on and off the court. His life off the court was known to be one that saw the star trying his hands on several marriages, one of which was to Marilyn Nault, his third wife.
While Nault’s life may not have been extensively documented, her marriage to Russell and the impact she may have had on his life during their short marriage remains a point of interest for many basketball fans and historians.
So, what is known about Marilyn Nault and her relationship with Bill Russell?
Table of Content hide 1Marilyn Nault biography 2Marilyn Nault career 3Marilyn Nault’s net worth 4Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell 4.1Marriage 5Marilyn Nault family 6Marilyn Nault age 7Marilyn Nault death 8Marilyn Nault obituaryMarilyn Nault biography
Marilyn Nault was born on January 15, 1950, in Concordia, situated in the US state of Kansas. She was raised in a modest American household; a Catholic household consisting of seven family members and was the only female child of Quentin and Helen Nault. She was raised alongside her four brothers.
Nault was said to have attended Catholic schools in Kansas and subsequently graduated from college.
She possessed silky blonde hair, and stood at 5 feet, 8 inches tall. She was an American businesswoman who was famously known as the third wife of the late basketball legend, Bill Russell,
Marilyn Nault career
After graduating high school, Nault relocated to Seattle, Washington. Following her father’s career path, she got employed as a jewellery salesperson. The job enabled her to meet Bill Russell, who she initially met while working in a jewellery store in the city and who would later become her husband.
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Before her romance with the basketball great, Nault worked as Bill Russell’s secretary. She also assisted him with various other responsibilities, including accounting, overseeing tax payments, and scheduling. She subsequently gave up her career and started becoming a housewife after they were married.
Marilyn Nault’s net worth
Given her penchant for privacy, little is known about the net worth of the late Marilyn Nault. As earlier stated, she gave up her job after getting hitched, hence, her source of income was subsequently based on her husband’s income.
Bill Russell, on the other hand, was exceedingly affluent and was thought to have had a net worth of roughly $10 million before his demise.
Marilyn Nault and Bill Russell
Bill Russell was an American professional basketball player and coach, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He was born on February 12, 1934, in Monroe, Louisiana, and grew up in Oakland, California.
Russell played college basketball for the University of San Francisco, where he led his team to two consecutive NCAA championships in 1955 and 1956. He was then drafted by the Boston Celtics in 1956, where he played for 13 seasons and won 11 NBA championships. Russell was known for his exceptional defensive skills, rebounding abilities, and team-oriented style of play.
In addition, Russell also made history as the first African American head coach in the NBA. He became the head coach of the Boston Celtics in 1966 and led the team to two NBA championships before retiring in 1969.
He was also a prominent figure in the civil rights movement and used his platform to advocate for social justice and racial equality. In 2010, he was awarded the U.S. Presidential Medal of Freedom in recognition of his contributions to civil rights and athletics.
Russell was a 12-time NBA All-Star, a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player, and a member of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
Marriage
On February 17, 2000, Bill Russell and Marilyn Nault tied the nuptial knot, Nault had recently moved to Seattle after finishing high school and was working in the jewellery business at the time of their meeting in 1996. Their wedding took place a few days after the NBA icon turned 66 at the time of their wedding, while Nault was 46 years old. The two enjoyed nine years of blissful living and frequent travel until Nault’s tragic death in 2009.
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Before his marriage to Nault, Russell had been involved in two failed marriages, the first of which produced his three kids. He was first married to Rose Swisher from 1956 to 1973.
He then got hitched to former beauty queen, Dorothy Anstett, in 1977. The marriage lasted only three years as the couple got divorced in 1980. Anstett won the crown for the Miss USA pageant in 1968. Russell was single for 18 years before eventually getting married to Marilyn.
There were no kids born to Russell and Nault Russell during their nine-year marriage. However, Russell’s children from his first marriage to Rose Swisher would eventually have Nault Russell as their stepmother, Nault was said to have been cordial with the offspring of the NBA icon, which included Karen Russell, William Russell Jr., and Jacob Russell.
Russell’s first child and only daughter, Karen Russell, was born on January 20, 1962. She has grown grew into a well-educated woman, receiving her degrees from Georgetown University and Harvard Law School. Karen is currently employed as a legal and political analyst with the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights.
Jacob Russell, the first son of Bill, was born on June 5, 1959, and is currently married to Sara Russell. The couple is blessed with two kids and is said to be currently residing in Washington, DC.
Russel’s other son, William Russell Jr., died following a fight with cancer on January 25th, 2016.
After the tragic passing of his third wife, Russell dedicated part of his life to fighting his own battles with cancer. The NBA Great went on to marry former professional golfer Jeannine Fiorito in 2018 when he was 84. He was married to her until the time of his death. He succumbed to cancer on July 31, 2022.
Marilyn Nault family
Nault’s middle-class family was made up of devout Christians, particularly followers of the Catholic faith. She was said to have had a close relationship with her parents, particularly her dad, being the only female child in her household. Her four siblings were Phil, Eric, James, and Kyle Nault.
Her father, Quentin Nault, was a professional retailer of jewellery and the owner of a jewellery store in Kansas, Her father passed away in 1987, leaving behind his children along with their mother, Helen. In 2020, one of Mailyn’s brothers also passed away, 11 years after his sister’s death
Marilyn Nault age
At the time of her death, Nault was 59 years old.
Marilyn Nault death
Marilyn Nault passed away on January 21, 2009, just six days after her 59th birthday. Her demise occurred a few weeks before Russell’s birthday and their ninth wedding anniversary.
The cause of death is not known as her family chose not to disclose the circumstances of her death. However, her passing seemed unusually sudden, leading several members of the public to speculate that she might have suffered from a serious illness.
Her cause of death was later revealed to be cancer, according to some news outlets.
Marilyn Nault obituary
Nault passed away at the Virginia Mason Hospital in Seattle, Washington. She was laid to rest at the Lakeview Cemetery located in King County, Washington, USA. According to her obituary tribute published by the Washington Times, at the time of her death, she was survived by her husband Russell; mother Helen Nault; and her four brothers: Phil, Kyle, James, and Eric; a niece and nephew.
She was also survived by four grandnieces; stepchildren Karen, Jacob, and Sara; four step-grandchildren; and many other friends and family members.
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