John Charles Campbell died peacefully in the early morning on the day a rare snow fell. He left quietly, his breathing barely audible, his body weak, his spirit strong, on his face an expression of awestruck wonder. For days in the hushed room, family kept vigil, witnessing his passing with love and gratitude for his well-lived life.
John was a physicist, and his work involved testing the earliest of the Earth-viewing satellites. Endowed with a deep love of nature and reverence for life, John was tall, broad-shouldered, kind, and shy, with sparkling, clear blue eyes. He possessed spacious intelligence and a subtle sense of humor.
John was born on November 30, 1937, in Lincoln, Nebraska to Fred C. Campbell and Lois E. Cordner née Campbell. Their home was built by his architect grandfather. Dust Bowl refugees, they left the drought-stricken family farm for California, landing in Altadena, then Palos Verdes. As a boy, John would hitchhike to the Santa Monica pier to fish all day. An early scientist, he and a friend built crystal radios and made telephones connecting their houses.