William Jesse Campbell

William Jesse Campbell, 54, of Gainesville, GA, died on March 27, 2013 at Northeast Georgia Hospital after a sudden illness. He is survived by his greatest joy in life, his son Casey Campbell and his beloved wife of 19 years, Kari Campbell also of Gainesville; parents Marion and Kenneth Campbell of Sarasota, FL; sister Cathleen Campbell Stone and his brother-in-law Howard Stone of Hoboken, NJ; his Uncle Robert Campbell of Southampton, PA; his brother-in-law Rick Kibler and mother-in-law Nancy Kibler of Dawsonville, GA. He was a loving cousin and godfather. He also leaves behind his family's cherished dog, Samantha.

Born in New York City in 1958, the tall and handsome son of a Madison Avenue advertising exec and a shipping executive/housewife, he had boundless energy and a joyful sense of humor so intoxicating his teachers in elementary school at Christ the King School, Haddonfield, NJ would say they couldn't look at him while disciplining him because he would invariably make them laugh. Bill enjoyed racquet sports beginning with tennis, developing his love for the game as a student at Cardinal Mooney High School in Sarasota, FL class of 1976, where the family moved after his father's retirement in 1974.

Remaining in Sarasota immediately following high school, he honed his tennis skills, his tan and his food service skills while attending general studies at Manatee Community College. During this time he worked at the famed Colony Beach Tennis Resort where he met and served many of his favorite entertainment and sports stars including Raquel Welch, the woman he thought most beautiful from the time he was a young boy until he met and married the love of his life.

He then attended Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL from 1979 to 1981 where he majored in criminology, focusing on a career in law enforcement. Arriving on campus during the trial of the decade, he volunteered in the newly created campus safety program helping any student walk across campus day or night, no questions asked. He took great pride in being offered an internship with the State Attorney's office where he worked and learned from people he admired for having successfully aided in the conviction of the infamous Ted Bundy.

Bill's friends were family to him, and he spent countless hilarious hours with them playing practical jokes, enjoying school games and participating in sports as well. His love for tennis waned as he eagerly got caught up in a new craze, racquet ball, and he eventually took school honors as Men's Single's Racquetball Champ of 1980.

While Bill adored crime shows, after working directly with some of the concepts he loved studying, he realized he wanted to help people enjoy life rather than spend his time on the aftermath of pain. After much deliberation, he realized his heart had all along been happiest while working in the food industry, so he completed his college courses and began working in earnest on developing his career in restaurant and club management. Shifting from restaurant work to private dining and country club management,Bill moved to Atlanta where he quickly rose through the ranks of management at Atlanta's first suburban city club, the Georgian Club where he also met his future wife. A position as General Manager of the Chatahoochee Country Club brought he and his family to live in his much-loved Gainesville. Throughout his club management career, Bill was an active and enthusiastic member of the Country Club Managers of America professional association holding various committee positions and maintaining the highest in industry-related certifications.

It was through his career as a club manager that he provided service and support to countless thousands of people, couples, families and organizations so that they could create their own memories and special moments through everything from weddings to retirement parties and especially those simple family gatherings after a special day enjoying a little golf or some swimming. He adored seeing the families of his clubs grow, the children of his members become avid athletes and especially the visiting grandparents take countless happy family pictures. He lived for these moments in his own life and family as well often noting his two favorite times were beach vacations and teaching his son to throw and pitch a ball. He considered being a husband and father to be his greatest achievements, often saying he could leave the world a happy man knowing the best of him lived on in his talented, intelligent and most-important to him kind son.

Fitness buff, golfer, hunter, avid movie fan and crime novel enthusiast, Bill was a life-long athlete and sports' fan. His blood ran "Garnet and Gold" for his beloved alma mater, Florida State University, but his heart remained "true blue" for his hometown New York Yankees and the New York Giants. He enjoyed cheering on his beloved Seminoles at Campbell Stadium (no relation), and often spoke of having the honor of meeting famed FSU Coach Bobby Bowden. He also loved cheering for the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame as long as they weren't opposing his Seminoles. Often sharing the games with his mother by phone screaming so loudly at each other, they were told perhaps no phone was necessary. He gave his blessing to his baby sister's fiancé only after confirming that he too loved the Bronx Bombers.
Bill found great support and fellowship with his friends at AA and in the program at Turning Point, and in his faithful devotion to the Blessed Mother. As he began to heal from what he referred to as "the common epidemic", he had begun to flesh out what he hoped would be a unique book and program designed to help people truly heal. It was his prayer that addiction would become a footnote in history as a clear- cut cure would be developed.

A celebration of William Jesse's life and Mass of Christian Burial will take place Saturday, April 6th, at the Church of the Incarnation, 2901 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota, FL at 12:00 noon followed by a luncheon, details to be given after the service. Interment immediately following in the Incarnation Memorial Garden. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Bill's name to the Good News at Noon men's shelter in Gainesville, GA: www.goodnewsatnoon.com.