Chester Campana

CHESTER CAMPANA age 93, beloved and devoted husband for 69 years of the late Helen (nee Lupo); loving father of Barbara D’Amico (husband Frank), Carol Story (husband James), and Michael Campana (wife Josephine) (wife Lori, deceased); devoted grandfather of Bethany, Frank, and Nicholas D’Amico (wife Kendra), Nathan and Andrew Miller, and Michael Campana (Shaina Banaszek) and great-grandfather of Giavanna Nicole D’Amico; cherished son of the late Pasquale and Artemizia (nee Maddamma); the youngest of 7 children, Chester grew up with and was dearest brother of the late Alex, Joseph, and Russell, siblings Maria, Mary, and Dominick passed away before Chester was born; dear Uncle and Great-Uncle of many. WWII U.S. Navy Veteran.

Chester was born on May 22, 1925 in Warren, Ohio and passed away peacefully at home on January 19, 2019. He was a resident of North Royalton for the last 14 months, formerly of Euclid for over 65 years. Chester was a long-standing parishioner of St. Christine Catholic Church until it closed and more recently a member of St. John of the Cross Parish. He proudly served his country in WWII in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theatre aboard the destroyer U.S.S. Bradford (DD 545) receiving a Navy Unit Commendation for “Outstanding heroism in action during the Okinawa campaign”. He was an active member of the Collinwood American Legion Post 759 for over 50 years, and more recently the Euclid Post 343. He was a life time member of the VFW and recently received a Certificate of Appreciation as a Gold Circle Member for his faithful support to the VFW National Veterans Service Program.

Chester also belonged to SPEBSQSA (Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barber Shop Quartet Singing in America) for over 60 years. Chester sang and performed with The Euclid Chapter Chorus and The Cleveland East Suburbanaires Chorus. He sang baritone and was an active member of 2 quartets over the years, “1894’s Quartet” and “The Crooked River Quartet” for over 27 years performing in various venues and entertaining many.

Chester attended school in Warren, Ohio before enlisting in the U.S. Navy. After serving his country he returned home, met the love of his life, Helen, and attended Barber College in Cleveland obtaining his Barber’s license. He eventually became the sole proprietor of his own business, “Chet’s Barber Shop”. He operated three different shops over a 20-year period, the first located on Wayside Rd. and Euclid Ave. in Cleveland; the second on St. Clair Ave. near Dilly Rd., and the last located on E. 222nd near Miller Ave. in Euclid.

Chester married Helen on May 1, 1948. They eventually settled in Euclid on East 218th Street where they started their family and raised 3 children. Chester retired from the City of Euclid in 1987, where he worked as a Sanitary Engineer for over 20 years at the City’s Waste Treatment Plant.

Chester was an avid sports fan, especially faithful to his home teams; the Browns, Indians, Cavs, and Ohio State Buckeyes. He loved music. As a boy, he idolized Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, and taught himself how to play the guitar and piano.

Chester appreciated nature and all its splendor and beauty and would tell us kids to take time to look around and take it all in. In his retirement years, Chester enjoyed raising roses, gardening, traveling, attending his Navy reunions, singing, and occasionally taking care of and entertaining his grandchildren with walks in the park, trips to the duck pond or Zoo, or just clowning around in the back yard. They brought great joy to his life.

Chester always had a smile. He was a good listener and made friends easily. He never complained despite enduring many years of various health issues. He fought through it and kept a pleasant disposition until the very end.

Chester will be remembered as a sweet, fun-loving, kind, gentle, friendly, and personable man. He was so proud to be an American, so proud of his country, and so proud to salute and display his flag in his front yard. He was an outstanding law-abiding citizen and a good neighbor. A true role model for his children and grandchildren. Chester was a good man. He had the patience of a saint. He was a devoted and loving husband, a wonderful, patient, and loving father and grandfather. He was a truly remarkable man and he will be dearly missed by all that were privileged to have known him.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Chester to Hospice of Cleveland Clinic, 6801 Brecksville Road #10, Cleveland, Ohio 44131 or Hospice of the Western Reserve, P.O. Box 72101, Cleveland, Ohio 44192. Prayers of Christian Burial Friday, January 25, 2019 at THE FUNERAL HOME at 11AM. Burial following with Military Honors at Lake View Cemetery. Family will receive friends to pay tribute to and celebrate the life of Chester at THE DeJOHN-FLYNN-MYLOTT FUNERAL HOME OF WILLOUGHBY HILLS, 28890 CHARDON ROAD (between Bishop Rd. and Rt. 91) THURSDAY 2-4 & 5-8PM.