Obituary of Robert Donald Campbell

Robert Campbell, a government and corporate public relations man and former newspaper reporter, died at Charlotte County Hospital, St. Stephen, NB January 13, 2004. He was 72. Born in Saint John to Donald I. Campbell and Della E. Cheeseman Campbell, he got his first newspaper job as a reporter on the Telegraph Journal while attending Saint John High school. After working for six years as a telegraph operator on the DEW Line construction project in the Arctic and as a radio officer in the Merchant Marine, he re-entered newspaper work with the Oshawa Times, the Hamilton Spectator and with Southam News Services in Toronto and Ottawa, specializing in labor and political news. He won a Southam Fellowship and spent a year of study at Massey College, University of Toronto. In 1967 he worked for the government of Ontario as Executive Assistant to the Minister of Financial and Commercial Affairs. He later served as Director of Information Services for the Federal Department of Health and Welfare in Ottawa, as Director of Information for the Province of New Brunswick, and as speechwriter and government liaison representative for Shell Oil of Canada. Returning to New Brunswick, he concluded his professional career with the Department of Veteran's Affairs in Charlottetown, where he spent six years as a member of the Veteran's Appeal Board. Robert Campbell was a Mason and member of the Progressive Conservative Party, an avid collector of paintings, books and jazz, and a long-time Yankees fan. He loved to travel, counting London, New York and New Orleans among his favorite destinations. He is survived by his wife of 47 years, Frances June Leary; a daughter Beth Campbell of St. Andrews; sons Robert of Toronto, Sandy of Wolfville, Nova Scotia, and nine grandchildren. Also surviving is a brother, Douglas, of Saint John, a sister Mavis of Sydney, Nova Scotia. He was predeceased by his parents and a sister, Barbara Campbell Charter. A Memorial Service will be held 2pm on Saturday January 17, 2004 at the All Saints Anglican Church, St. Andrews NB with Canon John Matheson officiating. For those who wish, donations to the Canadian Cancer Society, or to the charity of donor's choice would be appreciated. MacDonald Select Community Funeral Home, 20 Marks St. St. Stephen NB in care of arrangements.