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.
Uncle Connie, Aunt Cecille, & Constance were as is common in the culture of Jamaica, more of parents in their role as my brother was the youngest and Connie was the oldest. I was too small to understand, but growing up I saw the order and sacrifice in their life that differed from my home. I always wondered why they spoke so harshly to my parents, but it was because they were often carrying out a parental responsibility in a time post war my dad's parents all lived abroad. Although many memories are subconscious, looking back I am conscious of how much pride I took as an immigrant mixed daughter in my dad's older brothers achievements. His older brother was often the celebrity in the room when he spoke with all his friends from the West Indian community. There were 2 memories, my high point of being named "Miss America" of my local black pageant in Toronto by the top judge, and then a year later really struggling to hold it together after my parents temporary divorce, Constance , her mom and dad brought me to Ottawa to meet the Governor General when Connie was winning the Order of Canada. Like true Christian, Uncle Connie & his family were there for me at the high and low points of my life. I will never forget them, and I hope my daughter gets to meet his granddaughter too! Love always to my favorite Uncle, Surrogate Dad, and Hero Constance's dad uncle Connie who had the strength to be the things my parents couldn't be.