Obituary of Anthony A. Campbell

Our dear father, Anthony Campbell, passed away on September 6, 2020. Anthony was preceded in death by his mother Lena, his father Frank, and his sister Geraldine. He will be missed by his wife Regina, his daughter Patricia O’Callaghan (Michael), his son David (Johnie Mae), his daughter Lynne (John Sevcik), and his son Timothy (Kathleen). He loved and was loved by his grandchildren and great granddaughter: Michael (Bonnie), Lindsey (Jess), Ciara (Billy), Emma Claire, Madeline, Nolan, and Ruby. 

Anthony was a Benjamin Franklin High School graduate, class of 1946. As a young man during World War II, he helped the war effort by working at Philadelphia’s Naval shipyard. 

He loved the opera, and in his teens through early twenties performed as an enthusiastic extra in operas at Philadelphia’s Academy of Music. He had a flair for the dramatic, and was a life-long teller of tales and loved a good audience. 

Anthony spent his whole career working for the City of Philadelphia, which is where he met his wife, Jean. Anthony — also called “Ant” affectionately by his immediate family, and Tony by everyone else — was a Street Lighting Inspector. He worked for the city for 35 years. 

He loved music, especially Big Band music, and instilled a love for that era’s music in his kids. He also loved the Jersey shore, and spent all his summers there enjoying the beach and boating and the boardwalk with his family. He was a big personality, eccentric, creative, and funny. His sayings rival Yogi Berra’s. 

He also enjoyed cooking, building things with wood (he could make almost anything), fixing things, and telling unusual stories to his kids, grandkids, and anyone up for a good tale. 

Funeral arrangements will be private. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to one of the charities dear to Ant’s heart: 

Saint Joseph’s Indian School and Saint Jude’s Children’s Hospital.