Widow Who Donated This Year’s Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Says It’s in Honor of Her Late Husband: ‘Spread Joy’

Judy Russ is carrying on her late husband Dan Russ’ legacy in the form of one of the most iconic Christmas trees in the world.

Five years after Dan died at 32 years old, Judy decided to make their lifelong dream of getting the 75-foot-tall Norway spruce outside their home in upstate New York to the front of Rockefeller Center come true.

On Nov. 8, the tree was transported from the Russ family home in East Greenbush to the center of Midtown Manhattan for the holidays.

“As my husband has passed away, I know he would have loved to have been here for this moment,” Judy told NBC correspondent Joe Fryer 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 couple’s 7-year-old son, Liam, added, “I’m excited that the whole world can see it.”

As for how the dream became a reality? After Judy took Liam to see the biggest Christmas tree in New York City last year, they couldn’t help but think of the huge spruce back at home that had been planted by Dan’s great-grandparents around 75 years ago. So, Judy reached out to a family friend with a relative who works at Rockefeller Center.

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Before they knew it, Rockefeller Center’s head gardener, Erik Pauze, was telling them that the tree Liam once used as his own personal jungle gym would soon be adorned with 50,000 lights and a Swarovski star for all to see.

“I think I just hallucinated, like, ‘We need to go back because there’s no way this is real, right?’ ” Judy quipped.

The tree made its grand arrival at Rockefeller Center on the morning of Nov. 8. Judy and Liam will attend the lighting ceremony on Dec. 3.

“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, deciding to dedicate each shining light on the tree to her late husband. “Spread joy, spread cheer, love one another. Think of our family, think of my husband, think of us. We’re just happy to share it with everybody.”