Donald A. Campbell

Donald A. Campbell, 87, of Media, PA passed away peacefully on April 12, 2024.

Don Campbell has impacted not only an enormous part of Delaware County, PA and the Philadelphia area but has also impacted the world with his love of travel. As an Upper Darby School District Teacher, he taught for 28 years in both Westbrook Park Elementary School from 1968-1982 and Drexel Hill Middle School from 1982 until his retirement in 1996. He primarily taught 6th and 8th grade and focused on Social Studies, but when people would ask him in his later years what he taught, he said “Everything!”.

His love for basketball was unmatched. In his adult life he was a huge fan of both the Philadelphia area NCAA teams as well as the 76’ers. He made some of his best friends growing up on the playgrounds and basketball courts of Upper Darby and West Catholic. As a member of the 1953 West Catholic Varsity team, they upset Wilt Chamberlain’s Overbrook High team to win the City Championship. A basketball scholarship took him to Villanova after graduation, but back then, if you got injured, you lost your scholarship. So, a bad knee sent him back home. And then there was the love for his family. His father, Anthony Campbell, was born Antonio Campellone. Before he was married, Antonio became Anthony and he and his brothers changed their last name to Campbell due to the discrimination facing Italian Americans at the time. Anthony married Julia Sterbach. First born was their future fashion model, Berniece, in 1932, and Don followed in 1936. By the time Don was about 5, they moved from tiny Rosewood Street in South Philly to Overhill Rd in Upper Darby where he made his lifelong friends. Don enrolled in St. Alice’s Catholic School and then West Catholic High School for Boys (Bonner didn’t open until a few years later). He graduated from West Catholic in 1954. After Villanova he worked for a few years at the Philadelphia Stock Exchange for Reynolds & Co. He was drafted during peace time and was sent to serve in the Army at Fort Jackson in Columbia, SC from 1958-1960. After the Army, he enrolled as a business major at Temple University in the Fall of 1960. However, the GI Bill had not been renewed, and Temple was not considered a “State Affiliated” school until 5 years later. Trying to find direction, a good friend of his sister encouraged him to go into teaching. After observing the friend in action, he transferred to West Chester University as an education major, commuting from his parents’ home in Upper Darby on public transportation. He spent the summers as a bartender at the General Wayne Inn located in Merion Station to pay his tuition. Don did return to Temple to complete his Master’s in Education in 1969. Don completed his student teaching at Garrettford Elementary School in Upper Darby during the 1963-1964 school year. During that time, the school’s custodian, who he described as a sweet Irish lady that he knew from the trolley, introduced him to his future wife, a 2nd grade teacher named Helen Gysling. Despite being the student teacher, Don was five years older than Helen. Don spent three years teaching in Interboro’s Pennsylvania Ave Elementary School. The couple was married on November 20, 1965. Their first apartment was in Ridley Park where they were blessed with the delicacies of Roy Tweedy’s Butcher Shop where Don continued to shop throughout his life.

There were big changes for Don and Helen in 1968. Don accepted a job at Westbrook Park Elementary School, and they bought their house where they lived for the next 54 years on Indian Rock Dr. in Springfield and raised their daughter, Catherine, born in 1971. Indian Rock Dr. was close enough to school that Don’s students could ride their bikes or walk over to visit. The day he moved into his daughter’s house in Media in 2022, a former student stopped by to say “hi” that many years later. When Drexel Hill Junior High turned into Drexel Hill Middle School, he moved with the rest of the 6th graders to the new school. Catherine always joked that she started middle school at the same time as her Dad, in 1982. He went on to teach both 6th and 8th grade there. Some of the Upper Darby class of 1989 were lucky enough to have him for both 6th and 8th grade.

Don’s other loves were travel, fine dining and music. It started with a visit to his sister in New York City in the 1950’s. While in the Army he had the opportunity to vacation in Europe. When Don and Helen were first married, they spent their summers reviewing hotels and restaurants for a company called Mobile Travel Guide (For the younger readers, picture an official “Trip Advisor” book that you could purchase). It was a great way for a young couple to make money while traveling. In 1983 he took Helen and Catherine on their first trip to Europe, visiting England. Helen and Don traveled around the US and visited Europe 22 times and vacationed in South America and the Caribbean. They also took plenty of cruises after they both retired in 1996. And Don still loved to go to NYC and see Broadway shows with Helen. Wherever they traveled, they continued to make friends who live all over the US. He brought his love of music, especially jazz, wherever he went. He especially loved shows at the Kimmel Center like the Philly Pops. His Granddaughter, Lisette, was born in 2008. Starting in 2009 the 5 of them took annual trips each summer to Sea Isle City, NJ. Don was always seen at Lisette’s school functions and cheering her on at her many dance recitals. As an example of how far Don’s influence and connections reach in his community, he once taught Lisette’s middle school principal. In 2010 Don was introduced to his daughter from a prior relationship while in the army; she had been adopted by a warm, loving family after Don left South Carolina to return home. We are so happy to have Jeanie Hill Smith and her family from Georgia as part of our family. And, coincidentally, she is also a retired teacher.

In April 2021, Helen lost her battle with cancer, but Don helped her fight every step of the way. I don’t think Don ever met a medical professional he didn’t get along with. It didn’t matter if it was Helen’s Doctors or his Nurse Practitioners or the CVS Pharmacist. He was friends with everyone. Don continued to make connections wherever he went and was always happy to cheer on a former student’s kid at a sporting event, patronize their business, or stop and see a former student for a high-end haircut. He had great hair throughout his life! Don moved in with Catherine, her husband Matt, and their daughter Lisette in December of 2022. That February he adopted his beloved mini golden doodle puppy, Leo. Don’s sister had a dog that the family cared for when he was a young adult named Fieldsy. He always admired all the dogs that walked by his house in Springfield. The 4 of them plus Leo moved in June 2023 to a house that Matt designed and custom built to fit their multi-generational family in Media, PA. Don was so grateful for his family, students, and vast circle of friends from all parts of his life. He is now reunited in peace with Helen. We are sure he needed to finish watching the NCAA tournament this year, both the Men’s and Women’s teams.

Beloved husband of the late Helen G. (Gysling); devoted father of Catherine (Matthew) Campbell-Perna; Cherished grandfather of Lisette. 

Relatives and friends are invited to his Visitation Thurs. Eve. April 18, 2024, 6-8 pm, O'Leary Funeral Home, 640 E. Springfield Rd., Springfield, PA. and Fri. morning after 10 am to 11:30 in the Funeral Home. Int. Private.   

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to Upper Darby School District in Don’s name to Upper Darby School District, Attn: Business Office, 8201 Lansdowne Avenue Upper Darby, PA 19082. Please indicate Memorial Donation or Memorial for Mr. Don Campbell on their check.

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