Rose Swisher
NBA Legend Bill Russell and Rose Swisher
NBA legend Bill Russell married his first wife, Rose Swisher, in 1956. They were together for 17 years before they divorced in 1973.
They had three children – daughter Karen Russell who is a lawyer and TV analyst, sons William Jr and Jacob.
After their divorce, Russell remarried Dorothy Anstett, who was crowned Miss USA in 1968. Their marriage was criticized because Anstett was white and married in English, rather than in her native language of Portuguese.
Bill Russell’s First Wife
Despite her husband’s popularity, Rose Swisher was a low-key person who lived a relatively secluded life. She was married to Bill Russell on December 9, 1956 and they were college sweethearts.
However, they got divorced in 1973 due to growing distance from each other. They had three children, including Karen Russell, a television pundit and lawyer, and William Jr.
After their first marriage ended, Russell went on to marry Dorothy Anstett in 1977. Unfortunately, this relationship didn’t last long and they broke up after three years.
Russell then married Marilyn Nault in 1996 and they were together until she died in 2009. Although he often posted photos of her on social media, she tried to keep their relationship away from the public eye.
Bill Russell’s Second Wife
Bill Russell married Rose Swisher on December 9, 1956, and the couple had three children together. They raised Karen, a television pundit and lawyer, and sons William Jr. and Jacob, who both died of cancer.
The NBA legend was divorced from Rose in 1973, and she has stayed away from the spotlight since then. She was a successful model and photographer before she married Russell.
Aside from being the wife of an NBA star, she also served as a basketball coach and was a prominent civil rights activist. She fought for racial equality, and was known to take a knee during the anthem during game time.
After her divorce with Russell, she went on to marry Dorothy Anstett in 1977, and the two were together for a little over four years. They split up after three years, and Russell married Marilyn Nault in 1996. The union lasted until Nault’s death in 2009. However, Russell later married Jeannine in 2009 and was married to her until his death in 2014.
Bill Russell’s Third Wife
The Boston Celtics legend Bill Russell has been married to four different women. His first wife, Rose Swisher, was his college sweetheart and he was married to her for 17 years.
However, the marriage was not without its challenges. They struggled with communication and trust issues, and Russell ended up separating from Swisher in 1973.
Despite this, they continued to co-parent their three children. They were referred to as Bill’s “three babies.”
Russell later married former model Dorothy Anstett in 1977; this union also did not last long, and it ultimately ended with a divorce in 1980. He then married Jeannine Fiorito in 2016.
Bill Russell’s Fourth Wife
Bill Russell’s Fourth Wife
Rose Swisher was the first of the four women who he married. She was his college sweetheart, and they tied the knot on December 9, 1956.
They had three children together – Jacob, William Junior, and Karen. But things did not go well with their marriage and they divorced in 1973.
Then, he got remarried to Dorothy Anstett in 1977. She was a former Miss USA and they were happy at first.
But their relationship soon ended, and they decided to live a relatively secluded life.
She then got married to Bill Russell again in 1996, and their marriage lasted until she died on January 21, 2009. But they were very happy together until her death.
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