Donated by Widow Judy Russ in Honor of Her Late Husband Dan, a 75-Foot Norway Spruce from Upstate New York Takes Its Place as the 2025 Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree
In a deeply moving story of memory, legacy, and holiday wonder, the towering 75-foot Norway spruce that will shine this year at Rockefeller Center in Midtown Manhattan was donated by widow Judy Russ in honor of her late husband, Dan Russ. The tree’s journey from the family property in East Greenbush, New York, to one of the world’s most iconic holiday displays marks the culmination of a shared dream and an act of love that now will be visible to millions.
Judy and Dan Russ’s connection to this tree runs deep. Planted some 75 years ago by Dan’s great-grandparents, the tree grew on the family’s Rensselaer County farmland outside Albany and eventually became a part of Dan’s youthful memories. According to reporting, Dan had dreamed aloud of one day seeing the tree he played around become the famed Rockefeller Center tree — a vision he shared with his wife. When Dan died in 2020 at age 32, Judy carried forward that dream. “We always talked about it being the (Rockefeller Center) tree,” she said in an interview. “It’s so special that my family’s tree gets to be America’s, if not the world’s, Christmas tree.”
In July of this year, Judy submitted the so-called dream tree for consideration to the Rockefeller Center’s tree-selection process, and after a visit from the head gardener, Erik Pauzé, the tree was officially chosen. The spruce, measuring approximately 75 feet tall and weighing an estimated 11 tons, was harvested on November 6 and transported to Manhattan, arriving on November 8 to the bustling heart of the city.
For Judy and her 7-year-old son, Liam, the moment combines grief and joy, remembrance and celebration. In her own words, Judy said, “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.” The lights, she explained, will be dedicated 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.”
The tree’s arrival will culminate in the annual lighting ceremony on December 3 during the NBC television broadcast Christmas in Rockefeller Center, maintaining a tradition that stretches back decades. After the holiday season, the tree will be taken down and repurposed as lumber for Habitat for Humanity.
While the spectacle of the Rockefeller Center tree draws thousands in person and millions more on broadcast, the story behind the 2025 tree highlights a poignant personal narrative. The Russ family tree, once part of a quiet upstate yard, will now stand at one of the world’s most recognizable holiday landmarks, symbolizing how ordinary lives and extraordinary aspirations can intertwine. In choosing it, the Rockefeller Center team affirmed the tree’s symmetry of form, stature, and backstory — but for Judy, the choice was first and foremost grounded in love. “I know he would have loved to have been here for this moment,” she said of her late husband.
The visual transition from rural New York to Manhattan’s skyline underscores the remarkable logistics behind the tree’s selection. A crane supported its careful felling; transport crews weighed timing, height, and shape; and the tree was wrapped carefully ahead of its Manhattan arrival. Reporters at the scene noted an eagle gliding overhead as the tree was cut on the East Greenbush property — a moment that seemed symbolic, many observers said, of the tree’s journey from private to public display.
In these preparations lies a broader cultural pattern: the Rockefeller Center tree has for decades served as more than a decoration. It is a national touchstone, visited by hundreds of thousands in person, featured in media broadcasts, and viewed by millions around the world. This year’s tree, with its narrative of familial devotion and holiday giving, taps into that larger spirit of generosity and commemoration.
Of course, the story also invites reflection on memory and how objects and traditions carry emotional weight. For Judy, the act of donating the tree was never about spectacle. It was about fulfilling a promise and allowing others to experience the wonder her husband believed in. As she said, “It’s so special that my family’s tree gets to be America’s … Christmas tree.” The decision honors her late husband’s memory, shares their joy with the world, and invites visitors to pause and reflect during a season that emphasizes connection.
Still, the tree will not physically remain in Midtown forever. After its weeks of illumination, it will be dismantled and repurposed — an echo of its purpose: to light up a season and then to give back in another form. For Judy and Liam, the tree’s removal will mark both an ending and a new chapter. In the years that follow, the image of the towering spruce may call back to that night of lights, but for the family it will remain intimately tied to memory, loss, love, and hope.
The moment shines also as a reminder of the power of generosity. One family’s tree becomes the centerpiece of a city’s holiday celebration. One wish for solidarity becomes shared across a plaza, on broadcast, and in homes across the globe. If the tree’s branches reach toward the sky, its roots remain firmly embedded in the Russ family’s story — one of quiet hope, of dreams held long after their origin, and of legacy carried forth.
For the millions who will visit Rockefeller Center this holiday season, view the spectacle on television, or pause to send a mental thought of joy, the 2025 tree will offer more than lights and wreaths. It will offer the story of a family that turned grief into a symbol of giving, a memory into a public moment of cheer. And for those who know the Russ name, the tree will always stand as an enduring tribute: to Dan, to Judy, and to the power of one shared wish becoming a beacon for all.
