On Sunday, November 27, 2022, Dr. Constantine Alberga Campbell, C.C., S.O.M., Ph.D, age 88, of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, passed away peacefully, with his wife and two long-time family friends at his side. Known by friends as “Con” or “Conny”, he was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, on January 18, 1934. After graduating from Cornwall College (Jamaica) he moved to Canada where he obtained a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Soil Chemistry from the Ontario Agriculture College of the University of Toronto (Guelph campus) in 1960 and 1961, respectively and a Ph.D from University of Saskatchewan in 1965. Con’s Ph.D. thesis demonstrated that carbon dating techniques could be used to measure changes in soil’s organic matter.
Con worked as a Research Scientist and then Section Head at the Swift Current (Saskatchewan) Research Station (Agriculture Canada) from 1965 to 1997. His research into soil organic matter, over his more than 30-year career, has made dryland farming more productive and sustainable in Saskatchewan and across the Prairies. He was also an adjunct professor at the University of Saskatchewan. After retiring Con and Cecille moved to Ottawa, Ontario where Con continued to contribute to his field as Scientist Emeritus with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada for several more years. Con’s accomplishments and contributions in agronomy have been widely recognized in Canada and internationally. In recognition of his scientific contributions, in 1997, Con was awarded the Order of Canada, and in 1998, the Saskatchewan Order of Merit. Research.com currently ranks Con’s citations in the category of Plant Science and Agronomy #5 in Canada and #205 in the world.
Con was a devoted sports fan. His first passion from childhood was cricket. He played cricket throughout his youth and well into adulthood, including in Swift Current where he put together his own cricket team from the surrounding area and made the team a pitch to play on. It was so well made that it got rave reviews in The Cricketer Magazine (England). Con was also a devoted Saskatchewan Roughriders football fan even after moving to Ontario.
“…Your greatest legacy…is the spark you have ignited in the rest of us…You have implanted a part of yourself; your enthusiasm; your love of science, your generosity in acknowledging colleagues, your perseverance and drive, your tenacious curiosity. In doing so, you have left an imprint that will not gather dust on forgotten shelves, but will grow and be passed along by your successors and theirs. Your legacy, Con, is the myriad of people, here and abroad, who have felt the warmth of your scientific and personal vigor. I am proud to be part of the legacy.” [Dr. Henry Janzen, Lethbridge Research Station, 1997]
Con was predeceased by his parents, Joseph Augustine Campbell and his wife (Lilla) Matilda Campbell (formerly Marriott; née Thompson), his sister Mettibel (“Birdie”) Marriott, and his brother Eric Marriott, all of Montego Bay, Jamaica. He is survived by his beautiful wife of 61 years, Cecille Campbell (née Doran, from Kingston, Jamaica); his daughter Constance Campbell-Reid, her husband Colin Reid and their daughter Allegra Reid, of Ottawa; his brother Locksley Campbell and his family: Jolene Campbell, Monique Loland (née Campbell), and Jason Campbell; his sister Edna Marriott; his niece Michelle and nephews Milton and Lionel, and many other loving nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grandnephews from the Campbell, Loland, Doran, Chambers, Weise and Marriott families.
We his family and friends have been blessed to have known Con Campbell during his nearly 89 years of life. Thank you, Con, for being a generous friend, a loving husband, a devoted father, and a proud grandfather. May you watch over us as you play cricket inside Heaven’s pearly gates.
A visitation will take place at Beechwood, Funeral, Cemetery and Cremation Services (280 Beechwood Ave., Ottawa, ON, Canada) on Tuesday, December 13th at 12noon followed by the funeral service at 1pm. Masks are advisable.
Words of condolence to the family may be emailed to: CCampbell-YOW@bell.net
If you wish to make a donation in Con’s name, the family recommends a donation to one of the following organizations: the Alzheimer Society Music Project (contact Melisa at mproject@Alz.to); the Dementia Society – Ottawa & Renfrew County, or a donation to your local Cricket Association.
Digital Guestbook
Frederick McLeod
Doug Cameron
We will miss you Con. You were a great inspiration to all your colleagues in research. Rest peacefully. See you on the other side when the time comes.
Kin Him Alan Ng
RIP! My sincere condolences to the family for the loss of this remarkable gentleman.
Les Henry
It was a pleasure to have known Con and to follow the great work he did while at the Swift Current research Station and even after 'official' retirement. His enthusiasm while a Grad Student doing his PhD at U of S was infectious. I still remenber his excitement when he obtained access to a Mass Spec at the chemistry department.
Budong Qian
You are a great role model to many of us. Your dedication and great success in science will continue to inspire younger generations. We will always remember you. Thank you!
Marcie Doran and David Attwater
We were fortunate to live near Uncle Conny for many years. He was always an honoured guest at our home. He loved: his music, taking (wonderful!) pictures and handing them to us in an envelope, eating coconut shrimp (supplied by his niece Kim), visiting old friends in Jamaica, dancing with Cecille, watching cricket, tending his beautiful roses, eating cashews, his work, watching football on TV and in a crowded stadium, family get-togethers in Hartford, his daughter Constance, and his many friends and family members.
Uncle Conny was always cheerful and kind and we will miss him very much. We’re sending our love to Aunt Cecille, Constance, Colin and Allegra at this difficult time.
Elisha Campbell
As we are remembering all the Joy he has given.
Remembering with thankfulness how wonderful it was to have had someone like him among us, our condolence, May the sympathy of others and his precious memory helps to comfort us- at this time of celebration our caring thoughts are with you all. Thanks be to God for the great things he have done for us all.
The Campbell
Jingyi Yang
My deepest condolences on the passing of Con A. Campbell. I met Con when I started working at the Ottawa Research Center in 2000, and my office is next door to Con. He is a talented and renowned soil scientist who has made outstanding contributions to soil and agricultural research in Canada. I got along very well with Con, he was very responsive and helped me a lot with my research work. I've read Con's autobiography and know he was a great father and husband at home and a role model for his colleagues at work. I will always remember Con.
Henry Janzen
Con: you strode as giant among us. And you walk with us still, not only in the vast library of your scientific output, but also in the enduring reminder that such high achievement can be attained with grace, compassion, and endless kindness.
Clyde Boucher
You certainly had a great innings. Well batted my friend. Hitting your off stump in 1968 (Saskatoon vs Regina) during my first cricket game in Canada was memorable. Will miss our chats about West Indies cricket.
The advancement you have made in agronomy is plausible. We will always remember your contributions. Thanks