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Scott G. Campbell

Scott Campbell Obituary

Scott G. Campbell died on Friday, September 13, 2024 in Camden Town, London. He was 69. He died while indulging in one of his favorite pastimes, traveling. Scott loved wine, cigars and old rock bands like The Who and Jethro Tull. He also loved opera, Beethoven and the Capital City Symphony. He was a journalist who worked for newsrooms in Florida and Massachusetts before changing careers and transforming into a speech writer. He crafted speeches for Carol Browner, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator under President Clinton and for Senators Joseph Lieberman, Frank Lautenberg and Debbie Stabenow. After he retired, Scott found new passion in volunteering for the Folger Shakespeare Library, the National Museum of American History and the Eisenhower Memorial. He also served as a D.C. poll worker. He is survived by his wife, Lori Crouch; his father, Ed Campbell; his sister Jamie Campbell; his niece and nephew, Casey and Ethan Vaughn; and his aunt Reeta Dean. Donations can be made in Scott's name to World Central Kitchen, Miriam's Kitchen, Atlas Theatre, or Capital City Symphony. The date for a celebration of his life is to be determined.

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Published by The Washington Post from Oct. 11 to Oct. 13, 2024.

Memories and Condolences
for Scott Campbell

28 Entries

Clarine Nardi Riddle

October 5, 2025

Scott remains in our memories as a solid communications professional, a kind person, and a good friend to so many. May all those memories hold him in our hearts forever.

Viola Gienger

November 24, 2024

Our memories of Scott will live long because he lived life with such gusto and good humor -- and with that impish chortle of his. He loved to plan outings, and those of us who were fortunate to be his and Lori's friends here in DC benefited from all the fun, not to mention the cultural smorgasbord. Lori and Scott and I would marvel from time to time at our good fortune that Scott and I ran into each other on a sidewalk in DC in 2003 when I'd come to interview at Bloomberg. I'd lost touch with him and Lori over my years abroad. But when I moved to DC that fall, we got back in touch, and with Angela and Theresa, and the rest is friendistory. We had our little cabal of former SoFla journos and other friends who'd join from time to time. Great summer getaways to Rehoboth and then Lewes on the Eastern Shore for a number of years, with Theresa and Angela and then Len. Some of us would spend half the day on the beach, while Scott lounged in a hammock on the second floor balcony of the B&B or in the octagonal loft lounge on the 3rd floor that was particularly cozy and scenic on a rainy day, with a couple bottles of wine and good cheese and whatever else we cobbled together for the afternoon. In DC, the Capital City Symphony was one of our favorites; the Folger Theater (where he was a docent for years); and anything involving good food. Many New Year's Eves together, like the one in the photo Theresa posted (thank you, Theresa). Scott loved Cafe Berlin -- the photo here is the most recent meal we had on the patio there with Lori, their neighbor Bill and our longtime friend Theresa, during "Spargelsaison" (asparagus season, a springtime tradition in Germany and Austria that Scott loved). We were still wearing our jackets because it was, uh, a bit nippy and, for about 20 solid minutes, pouring rain. Remarkably the umbrella over the table was big and sturdy enough to withstand the downpour, and we persevered for the sake of that food -- and the good company, of course. So many good times, good memories -- more than I can possibly recount here. Lori, I look forward to continuing to celebrate his spirit -- and his laugh -- with you in the coming years. My sympathies also to his family, whom he held so dear. He will be with us always.

Theresa Defino

November 10, 2024

Having met Scott when I was only 22 and sharing in his friendship and with Lori for 40+ years is something for which I´ll always be grateful. As others have said, he was brilliant, unique, funny and fun. We enjoyed so many good times, plays, movies, art, dinners, especially ringing in the new year. I´m bereft. Much love to Lori and the rest of his family and friends.

Michael Lasalandra

November 9, 2024

I loved Scamper. That was his nickname because his logon at the Post was scamp. He, me and Val spent a few days at Val´s house in Nantucket and it was a blast. Scamp and I decided we would become a singing act called the Lucky Charms (i have no idea why) and we would sing The Lion Sleeos Tonite over and over again using the words "in the village, the mighty village" rather than the "mighty jungle" as the song actually went. When Scamp´s time at the Post was winding down (i don´t know why) I brought him up to Boston to work at the Herald, where I went after the Post. He was loved by everybody at the Herald (as he was at the Post). Eventually, he decided to leave Boston and I more or less lost track of him and later saw him on Facebook from time to time. His untimely death was a shock to all who knew him. We lost a great guy.

Sara Lonardo

November 9, 2024

Scott was such a fantastic co-worker to have as a young communications staffer. I learned so much from him and was lucky to run into him occasionally even years later, most recently when he was volunteering at the polls during this year's primary. He was clearly loving life. Sending so much love to the entire family.

Bart Sullivan

November 8, 2024

Scott was a lovely guy. The Palm Beach Post newsroom in the mid- and late-eighties was a joyful place and Scott was a huge factor. He threw us a going-away party in late 1992 with an in-house invitation to Post staffers in which he anticipated a surge in circulation in Lake Worth and Riviera Beach. (I still have it.) Funny guy. When the D.C. chapter of The Palm Beach Post Alumni Association convened for one of O´Hara´s passes through town, Scott was always there, vibrant, full of stories. Lori, we´re saddened by your loss of this fine man. Susan and I will miss him. As Burns, a favorite of his, would say, "Here, leave a sigh."

Joe Newman

November 8, 2024

I don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but it has to be said. Scott had one of the most terrifying coffee mugs to have ever graced a newsroom.

Young reporters came far and wide just to gaze into the darkness that was his mug. This sounds like an exaggeration but it's not. There was at least a half-inch layer of black sludge at the bottom of that mug.

It shook me to my core and made me question my own existence. I yearned to have a mug like that but lacked both the intestinal fortitude and commitment to possess such a thing. My memory has faded but I believe on the side of that mug there was an inscription that read: "Whosoever holds this mug, if they be worthy, shall possess the power of Thor." Or maybe it was "the power of Robert Burns." I can't remember.

Scott was someone I looked up to for more reasons than just his majestic coffee mug. He was a top-notch reporter. I once heard a story that I've since forgotten about Scott when he worked at the Boston Herald. The only thing I recall is that involved him in a phone booth with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. Do you really need to know more?

You were a good one Scott.

Larry Aydlette

November 8, 2024

My favorite newsroom memory of Scott was how he could manipulate the old Atex computers to make it look like you were getting an ominous message from the editor: Come to my office immediately. So many of us felll for it but you could never get mad at him because he always had that big smile on his face, One day he called some of us over to his ATEX screen and he had somehow drawn a model of the Starship Enterprise using keyboard characters. I still have no idea how he did that. He was one of a kind.

Matt Prichard

November 8, 2024

Scott was a crackerjack reporter and writer, and a light in the newsroom at The Palm Beach Post. He was the best of us.

Carol Carnevale

November 8, 2024

Lori - I was so sorry to hear of Scott´s passing, he was such a fun (and smart!) co-worker. My story is the nickname he gave me when we were in the newsroom together - which is the best nickname EVER. C-Squared. Nobody else can call me that. I just loved it! I still miss that.

Candy Hatcher

November 8, 2024

Scott was one of my favorite people among many wonderful friends in our Palm Beach Post newsroom in the late 1980s and `90s. He was just fun to hang out with. Infinitely curious, fascinated by science, a good listener. He never took himself too seriously. He always made me laugh.

Train beers at Brandy´s on Friday night. The Cid after a crazy night on deadline. Writing about Florida´s new lottery (1987/1988 - the lottery director, Rebecca Paul, had a crush on him).

Once, when Scamp came to Tallahassee to cover the legislative session, he and I drove to a nearby fishing village, Apalachicola, for an afternoon. We went to an old pub downtown. Scott walked in first. When he set foot inside, a woman gasped and grinned: "It´s a MAY-AN!" And then I walked in behind him. The woman was crestfallen. I guess I ruined an opportunity for Scott, though I know Lori already had his heart.

It was easy to see where Scott got his smarts and sense of humor. He had the coolest parents. I joined them for Thanksgiving one year, and we laughed and told stories all afternoon. We bonded over Rocky and Bullwinkle (my lunchbox in first grade). I love that Scott and his parents had such a close bond.

He was a treasure. The world is less funny, less interesting, less kind without him.

Clarine Nardi Riddle

October 23, 2024

My deepest sympathy to the family of Scott Campbell. Scott was such a kind person, thoughtful colleague, and wonderful writer. He always managed to weave words together to tell a story that the reader wanted to read. That was a real gift. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
May his memory be a blessing.

Adam Sedgewick

October 21, 2024

I have many fond memories of Scott from my time working with him when we both worked for Senator Lieberman. His office was at the end of the hall and you could easily drop by and pick his brain. He did very thoughtful work, he wanted to make sure that he had the topics and the details right for anything he provided up the chain.

I'm so glad I got to know him and sending my condolences to his loved ones.

Kerry Dooley Young

October 20, 2024

So sad to read this. It was always a pleasure to talk with Scott and Lori when we ran into them at local events. Send lots of sympathy to the whole family.

Angela Bradbery

October 19, 2024

Scott was a warm, spirited, curious and fun-loving individual whom I was fortunate enough to know for almost 40 years. As a reporter, he relished learning about people and what motivated them. He had a great eye for detail, which made him a wonderful reporter and colorful storyteller. He came up with stellar turns of phrase. On a group trip to Gettysburg, where we experienced people in costumes, hordes of tourists and a lot of Civil War kitsch, he looked around and declared Gettysburg to be "the Graceland of the Civil War." Perfect.

We´ll all miss him a lot. I´m so sorry for your loss Lori. May all your warm memories bring you comfort and peace.

Charlene "Charlie" Lenger

October 19, 2024

hi Lori,
I have a mental picture of Scott in high school. A memory is so strong that it must come from an actual photo. Weeks ago and again today, I looked where the photo should logically be. It's not there. (Moving does that.) When I find it, I will send it to Jamie to send to you.
Scott and I know each other from Miramar High School journalism class and the Look Out, our school newspaper. In the photo, Scott is grinning and he's wearing a sports tee shirt with sleeves that are a different color than the torso. It's a great photo and I want to share it with you.

All my sympathy, Charlie

Joyce Rechtschaffen

October 18, 2024

Scott was very kind, extraordinarily patient, funny and a wonderful colleague. Those of us in the Lieberman world would give him our uninspired drafts and he would turn them into products we could proudly give the Senator. His magic extended to every topic under the sun. I loved hearing about his writing process- he would sit with the Senator and listen for a long time, do some research in arcane areas and then go at it. I never saw Scott get angry or frustrated; as his supervisor for a while, I never heard him complain. It was a privilege to have known him. May his memory be a blessing.

Bill McColl

October 13, 2024

As a great friend and neighbor for so many years, I will miss Scott so very much. He was always on the porch which meant everyone here knew him and his friendly greetings. I had to take my dog Sasha out in the midst of a snowstorm and there was Scott in the window, holding Moo the cat and waving her paw at us! He was delighted to show how nice it was to have a cat and a warm house! We had many Burns Night parties, much fun and I will hold on to our great memories. Lori, I wish you peace and remembrance. Slainte´ my friend.

Charlie Lenget

October 13, 2024

Keum Lee & Family (DC Supermarket)

October 12, 2024

Mr. Campbell was the most amazing customer of ours for over 13 years. He was with us since we opened. Mr. Scott was one of most nicest and caring individual we've ever met. We appreciated him very much. We are so terribly sorry for your loss. God bless you and your family. He and your family will be in our prayers.

Donna

October 12, 2024

I did not know Scott well but he was warm and welcoming and so very interesting. I send you love Lori.

Janice Bennett

October 12, 2024

I only met Scott once, but I immediately liked him.
Lori, my heart hurts for your loss.
Love,
Aunt Janice

Caroline Hendrie

October 12, 2024

You´re in my thoughts, Lori.

Nancy Mae

October 12, 2024

Scott was a great character, and I´m so sorry for your loss, Lori ! I hope you find the peace you need ! Xo NancyMae

Jill

October 12, 2024

I loved Scott´s laugh. He had the best laugh.

When I would talk about politics he would always ask questions like a reporter - open-ended, short, not adding his own view.

He loved Alf! That show completely delighted him which I found fascinating.

He borrowed a Muhammad Ali biography and it came back dog eared and clearly read. You gotta love someone that loves Muhammad Ali.

I loved how protective he was of Lori, my sister.

And I loved how he would tell stories with utter delight and funny details.