John Campo

TUSCALOOSA - John Anthony Campo, Jr., USNR-Ret., age 74, a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a resident of Tuscaloosa, Alabama since 1993, passed away at home with family by his side on Friday, September 30, 2016 after a courageous 21 month battle with pancreatic cancer. Services will be 3 p.m. Thursday, October 6, 2016, at St. Francis of Assisi University Parish in Tuscaloosa with Father Rick Chenault officiating and Norwood-Wyatt Chapel Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. A private inurnment will be held in the Columbarium at Holy Spirit Catholic Church at a later time. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Margaret Campo; sister-in-law, Barbara Eichman; and his nephew, Michael Littler. He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Katherine Eichman Campo; daughters, Victoria Campo Byrd (Garnett) of Fort Lauderdale, Fla. and Katherine Campo Royster of Phoenix, Ariz.; grandchildren, Garnett Williamson Byrd II, Eleanor Katherine Byrd and Caroline Campo Byrd; sister, Margaret Campo Littler; brother-in-law, Frank Eichman; nephew, Don Eichman (Charlene); nieces, Christina Campo Littler and Doree Eichman; and several other relatives. John grew up in Cherry Hill, New Jersey where he attended Bishop Eustance Prep School and went on to graduate from LaSalle College in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Management. In 1966, John was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy. After attending Gunnery School in Dam Neck, Virginia he served as a weapons officer and Officer of the Deck aboard the USS Kearsarge home ported in Long Beach, California. After two tours to Vietnam, he was released from active duty in September 1969. He remained on active duty in the Naval Reserve and retired in 1995 with the rank of Captain. John later earned a Master of Business Administration in Organizational Development from Boston College and in 1983 attended the Executive Development Program at the Darden School of Business at the University of Virginia. John enjoyed a long and successful 30-year career in the steel industry. He started with Alan Wood Steel Company in Conshohocken, Pa. as a sales representative in Buffalo, N.Y. and later in Boston, Mass. Alan Wood was acquired by Lukens Steel in Coatesville, Pa. where he held several sales and marketing management positions until 1993 when he joined a division of British Steel in Tuscaloosa, Ala. as Vice President-Sales and Marketing. In 2007, after a brief retirement, John joined O'Neal Steel in Birmingham, Ala. as Vice President-Sales and Marketing. He retired from the parent company, O'Neal Industries in December 2012 as Vice President of Market Development and Contract Management. Even after his retirement, John consulted with O'Neal Industries and one of its operating companies, acting as "consigliere" to the company's president until the time of his illness. During his time in the industry, he was a well-respected mentor to many. John's three grandchildren were a source of great joy to him. "Nonno" (and "Oma") never missed a birthday or other special event such as ballet recitals, First Holy Communions and sporting events. He was extremely proud of their academic and athletic achievements. He loved being with them in Florida and traveling to Italy and the beach, where they made many wonderful memories. John, an avid golfer, was also a lover of fine foods and a collector of wines which he enjoyed sharing with family and friends. However, nothing meant more to John than his love and passion for his family and his faith. John and Kathy were fortunate to travel extensively throughout their marriage and especially enjoyed visiting Italy where his father grew up. Married in 1966, they would have celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary on December 26th of this year. The Campo family would like to acknowledge the exceptional care that John received from MD Anderson in Houston, Texas and Dr. Susan Bostick, Dee Guy, PA and the wonderful, dedicated staff at Lewis and Faye Manderson Cancer Center and Hospice of West Alabama. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, 811 Fifth Avenue, Tuscaloosa, AL 35401, in honor of the John Campo Scholarship Fund.