CANARSIE — After their 20-year-old son died in a car accident in 2006, Walter and Eunice Campbell turned the family tragedy into a gift that has helped hundreds of students in the Diocese of Brooklyn. To honor his memory, the couple established the George K. Campbell Scholarship, which is still going strong 18 years later. For their long-standing commitment to Catholic education, Walter and Eunice received the Spirit of Hope Award at the Bishop’s Christmas Luncheon in December.
“It was so special, and I feel blessed that my husband and I were rewarded this way,” Eunice said. Each June, two graduating eighth graders at Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy in Canarsie, where Walter is chairman of the board of directors, receive scholarships of $1,000 to put toward their education at a Catholic high school of their choice. Walter said the scholarship is an effort to promote Catholic education.
“We must keep our Catholic schools going,” Walter said. “We have a lot of families who find they can’t pay tuition and pay a mortgage, too. My role as chairman is to keep working to help them.” The couple’s advocacy for Catholic education stems from their three kids — sons George and Kevin and daughter Yma — attending Catholic schools in the Diocese of Brooklyn. The Campbell children all attended Holy Family Catholic School in Canarsie. George and Kevin then went on to Nazareth Regional High School in Flatbush, while Yma is a graduate of Msgr. McClancy Memorial High School in East Elmhurst.
In addition to helping eighth graders at Our Lady of Trust, the Campbells work with the diocese to provide other scholarships of various amounts on an as-needed basis for students whose families struggle to afford tuition at other schools. Since it was established, the George K. Campbell Scholarship has raised approximately $400,000 and helped an estimated 250 students, according to Yma, who added that the scholarships are awarded based on a student’s character, not just academics.
“That’s important to us,” Yma explained. “George had tremendous character. He never met a stranger, and he loved everyone that he met.” After Holy Family Catholic School closed in 2009, Our Lady of Trust Catholic Academy was established, serving three parishes in Canarsie — the Shrine Church of St. Jude, Our Lady of Miracles, and Holy Family-St. Laurence. The Campbells have been parishioners at Holy Family for 50 years. Walter is a Eucharistic minister and catechist and also serves as the head usher. Eunice is a Eucharistic minister, as well, and belongs to the church’s prayer circle.
Yma said that helping others through the scholarship is also a benefit to Walter and Eunice. “My parents needed to do this because this was their way of healing and being able to move forward,” she explained. “George’s name, when it comes up, is always going to be very emotional for them. But they find joy in giving.”
Walter thinks of his late son every day and is certain George would be pleased with the good works he and his wife have done in his name. “George would look at it and say, ‘Dad, do what you need to do,’ ” Walter said. “I think he would have been proud of us.”
