Dr. Russell’s Narrative

I grew up on the North Side of Chicago, raised by my aunt, who gave everything she had. In 2006, when I was in 7th grade at St. Margaret Mary School, I met Mr. Don Sadofsky, the music teacher who would change my life. He became my piano teacher, then my saxophone teacher, and eventually my godfather.

When I told him I could sometimes pay the eight dollars for lessons and sometimes couldn’t, he smiled and said, “Eight dollars.” And whether I had it or not, he always taught me. With kindness. With patience. With belief.

Don shaped my life.
Now, as he turns 76 on December 19, 2025, I founded the Mr. Don Sadofsky Foundation for Music Education to carry his legacy forward. Our yearlong campaign, #sadofsky76, is raising $76,000 to provide instruments, lessons, jazz camps, scholarships, and teacher support for youth across Chicago.

This is Don’s legacy. This is our movement.