CHEBEAGUE IS. – Kenneth Campbell, age 76, passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 10th, 2020.CHEBEAGUE IS. – Kenneth Campbell, age 76, passed away peacefully on Tuesday March 10th, 2020.
Born May 22nd, 1943 in Boston, Massachusetts to Earl Campbell and Mable Doughty and was the oldest of two children. Kenny, was a retired Navy veteran/fisherman, tried and true islander and beloved father of two.
As a young boy, Kenny could be found helping his father out on the water, running around the beach at Bennet’s Cove and playing baseball at the elementary ball field.
In 1961, at the age of 18, Kenny enlisted into the Navy – becoming a navigator on the USS Newport News for four years, before his honorable discharge in 1965. Here is where he solidified his navigation skills and reinforced his love for working on the water.
Shortly thereafter, he married Betsy Jarratt in 1966, who was a waitress at the time living on Chebeague. They had two kids together: Doug (‘67) and Craig (’71). He would later get a divorce in 1980 and re-marry to Pamula Johnson.
He went on to captain the sardine carrier the Royal in ’75, Joyce Marie in ’76, Lou Ann in ’79, Mariner in ’85 and eventually transitioned to lobstering in 1997, when he bought his first boat. He had several lobster boats, the last being the Drea Marie; named after his great-granddaughter.
Kenny truly loved the simple pleasures of life; a hot cup of coffee, a South West breeze, telling stories with friends and family, rooting for the Red Sox and occasionally teasing his grandchildren. He was a well respected and honorable man, who will be truly missed.
Kenny is predeceased by his parents, Mable and Rory Campbell and Pam, his ex-wife and longtime friend. He is survived by his brother and best-friend David, his wife Susan and their daughter Amanda; son Doug, his wife Denise and their son Tyler; son Craig and his wife Kim. He had six stepchildren, Christopher Rich, Kimberly Martin, Patricia Rich, Sherman Rich, Jonathan Rich, Rebecca Koppman, their spouses, 15 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held privately on Chebeague Island.
Kenny and Pam