Benny Campanella

Benny Campanella, Sr., age 77, of Bucyrus, Ohio passed away earlier this month following an extended illness.

Benny was born on January 18, 1944, in Freeburn, Kentucky; the son of the late Michele (Mike) Campanella, who emigrated from Sicily, and the late Margaret (Blankenship) Campanella.

After graduating from Phelps High School in 1962 where he played basketball, he and Pauline (née Vanover) Campanella of Williamson, West Virginia eloped on February 11, 1963, and took a train to Bucyrus, Ohio where they settled and raised their family.  Together they shared 57 years of marriage.  Pauline preceded Benny in death in 2020.

After over 30 years of dedicated service, Benny retired from The Timken Company in 1999.

Benny loved music, especially the music of Chet Atkins, and playing his Gretsch and red Fender Telecaster guitars. He was once dubbed ‘Guitar Man’ after entertaining the crowd with guitar solos at the monthly lunch with the Mayor at Bucyrus City Hall.  He was an outdoor enthusiast and loved being in nature – swimming, fishing and canoeing.  He was also a lover of cars!  A favorite pastime was visiting car dealerships checking out new inventory.  He even dabbled as a car salesman for a few years after retiring from Timken.  Benny loved to tell jokes and make you laugh and had an easy-going nature and kind heart.  He had the gift of the gab and could strike up a conversation with anyone.  He enjoyed sports of all kinds and could be seen at all the local high school games on weekends.  Benny was a member of the First Church of the Nazarene.

Benny is survived by his daughter Pebbles Campanella-Napakh (Elliot Napakh) of New York and Pennsylvania; sons Benny Campanella, Jr. (Michelle Campanella) of South Carolina; Michael Campanella (Tiffany Campanella) of South Carolina; granddaughters Madison Campanella, Morgan Campanella, Macey Campanella; and grandsons Silas Campanella and Devon Campanella; as well as sisters Myrna Palmisano of Cicero, Illinois and Bonnie Campanella of Berwyn, Illinois.

Benny was preceded in death by his siblings Carol Perkins, and brothers Jerry and Mike Campanella.

Services will be private at the convenience of the family.

In lieu of flowers, friends wishing to send a contribution may direct them to The Humane Society of the U.S. (humanesociety.org) or any animal rescue in honor of Benny’s cats that he loved so much: Red, Annie Bell, Chrissy, Sissy, Rusty, Charlie, Oliver, and Oscar.

Benny was loved by everyone who knew him, and he will be greatly missed.

We love you Pop.