Richard "Dick" Campbell

BOXFORD - Mr. Richard Campbell, longtime resident of Boxford, died May 26th, 2025, at the age of 90.
He was born December 9, 1934 in Winthrop, Massachusetts to the late Winifred (Mootrey) and Everett Allen Campbell. Raised in Saugus, he graduated from Saugus High School in 1952 and from Northeastern University in 1958.
Dick met his soulmate and best friend, Joan Hanson, in a young adult group in the Cliftondale church where they were married in 1962. They made their first home in Topsfield where they raised their daughters, before moving to Boxford 47 years ago, where his large vegetable garden became a bit of a local landmark.
Dick began working as an industrial engineer at Honeywell, but soon moved to Raytheon, where he had a 30-year career. His colleagues knew him as the man with all the answers, and mornings always brought a small queue of co-workers seeking advice on everything from car repair to growing tomatoes. He brought that same intensity and dedication to his volunteer work at Trinity Church, serving several terms as junior warden, and to Esperanza Academy, where he and Joan tutored several students every week, helping them through all four years at the school and into high school.
Of the titles he answered to, his favorite by far was "Papa". Nothing prepared him for how much he would adore having grandchildren. He accepted an early retirement package from Raytheon within months of becoming a grandfather, and he and Joan delighted in having their two grandies a mere mile away, allowing them to be at every game, performance or recital, and enlisting their help each season in his vegetable garden.
Dick is survived by his devoted wife Joan, his beloved children, Pamela Messenger and her husband Ben of Boxford, and Jennifer Campbell and her partner Christian Robert of France, his cherished grandchildren, Olivia Messenger of Norwood, and Annie Messenger and her fiancé Josh Hussey of Maine, his sister Donna Zuckerman and her husband Donald of Northampton, and his brother-in-law William Cestaro of New Hampshire. He was so fond of his many nieces and nephews and their families, both on his side and on Joan's. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his daughter Martha Campbell and by his sister Gay Cestaro.
Dick's family is grateful for the loving and compassionate caregivers at All-Care Hospice and Sunrise of Lynnfield who supported him at the end of his life.
ARRANGEMENTS: Family and friends are warmly invited to a funeral service in celebration of Dick's life at Trinity Episcopal Church, 124 River Road, Topsfield, on Saturday, June 7th, 2025 at 1pm. Assisting the family with the arrangements is O'Donnell Cremations – Funerals – Celebrations, 167 Maple Street, (Rte 62) DANVERS. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Trinity Episcopal Church, 124 River Road, Topsfield, MA 01983 or to Esperanza Academy, 198 Garden Street, Lawrence, MA 01840. to share a memory or offer a condolence, please visit www.odonnellfuneralservice.com
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