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This year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree has arrived in New York City after being donated by a family in memory of their loved one.
Crews transported the magnificent 80ft Norway spruce from Judy Russ’ home in East Greenbush, Rensselaer County, to Midtown Manhattan on Saturday.
For Judy and her seven-year-old son, Liam, the moment honors the memory of Dan Russ, Judy’s husband and Liam’s father, who tragically died at their home in 2020 at age 32.
The tree itself holds generations of family history; Dan Russ’ great-grandparents planted it about 75 years ago on their farm, and it later served as a favorite jungle gym for young Liam.
‘My husband would have loved to have been here for this moment,’ Judy Russ told NBC on TODAY. ‘We always talked about it being the [Rockefeller Center] tree. It’s so special that my family’s tree gets to be America’s, if not the world’s, Christmas tree.’
The idea to submit the towering spruce came to Judy during a visit to Rockefeller Center last year.
A family friend helped connect her to the organizers, and head gardener Erik Pauze confirmed the selection.
The tree will be adorned with more than 50,000 lights and a Swarovski star.
The Russ family’s 80-foot Norway spruce from East Greenbush, New York, arrives at Rockefeller Center to become this year’s iconic Christmas tree
Crews transport the massive 12-ton Rockefeller Center Christmas tree through Midtown Manhattan
Judy Russ and her son Liam donated the tree in memory of her late husband, Dan Russ, fulfilling a family dream
The official lighting ceremony takes place on December 3, which Judy said will be an emotional moment for her because it serves as a kind of memorial for her husband and her father-in-law.
‘Well, I cry at home in my living room when the tree is lit, so I’m probably going to be inconsolable that day, but it’s going to be great,’ Judy said.
Judy said she plans to dedicate every light to Dan’s memory, sharing a message of hope and love: ‘Spread joy, spread cheer, love one another. Think of our family, think of my husband, think of us. We’re just so happy to share it.’
It’s not clear how Dan died.
Last year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas tree similarly honored the family who donated it.
The 2024 Rockefeller Center Christmas tree, a 74-foot Norway spruce from West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, served as a tribute to Leslie Albert, donated by her husband, Earl Albert, following her passing.
Earl and Leslie planted the tree as newlyweds in 1967. It grew into a beloved family landmark before Rockefeller Center’s head gardener spotted it in 2020, just two days after Leslie passed away.
The donation became a way for the family to honor her memory, mark a ‘new beginning,’ and share their story – and their cherished tree – with the world.
Dan Russ, Judy’s husband and Liam’s father, tragically died at their home in 2020 at age 32
Seven-year-old, Liam, and Judy with the tree at their home before it was cut down
Last year’s tree is seen lit up in all its glory as ice skater marvel at its decorations
The tradition of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree began in 1931
The Rockefeller Center Tree’s true significance lies in its humble beginning.
In 1931, during the Great Depression, struggling immigrant workers pooled funds to buy a simple 20-foot balsam, decorated with cranberries and paper, creating a low-cost symbol of hope that launched the tradition.
Today, the selection is a year-round mission, with the head gardener meticulously scouting for a full, symmetrical Norway Spruce that is typically 75 feet tall.
Once a family donates the chosen tree, it is carefully cut, secured by a crane, and makes a significant logistical journey to Midtown via a custom trailer.
Finally, the tree’s legacy continues: after the holidays, its lumber is milled and donated to Habitat for Humanity to build homes.
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