Sculptor leaves legacy through Spirit of Life® fountain
City of Hope ArchivesRobert I. Russin oversees installation of the Spirit of Life fountain on May 3, 1967.
The artist was originally commissioned to create a bas-relief on the medical center’s exterior in 1963 as a tribute to the memory of President John F. Kennedy. But after spending time at City of Hope, seeing patients and their families and interacting with the staff, Russin asked himself, “What do you put in front of a hospital to make it joyful?”
Russin decided on a sculpture, and used his family members as the basis for the figures depicting a man, woman and child. He believed the setting was integral to the sculpture, so he also participated in redesigning the medical center’s entrance.
Russin spent three years on the sculpture and fountain, at one point taking a leave of absence from his academic position at the University of Wyoming to move with his family to Monrovia, Calif. The resulting nine-foot bronze statue was mounted on top of three tiers of Italian marble and centered in a 30-foot circular reflecting pool. The redesigned main entrance with the statue and fountain, along with the integrated landscaping and seating, achieved a distinctive and uplifting architectural introduction to City of Hope.
Seven hundred guests gathered to celebrate the fountain’s July 1967 dedication. Speakers included author Irving Stone and actor/ producer Carl Reiner. More than 40 years later, the Spirit of Life sculpture continues to symbolize hope and joy.
Russin also created a bronze statue and fountain located in Heritage Park. Dedicated in 1969, it honors Evelyn Fineman, wife of former City of Hope board chair Mannie Fineman.