Nicholas Campo was born in Brooklyn, New York, September 20, 1942 to parents Emanuel (Nick) Campo, and Bettina (Betty) Campo Nick had one Sister, Prudence (Cookie) Amoroso.
Nick’s Father owned a trucking business in Brooklyn called E. Campo Trucking. Nick worked along-side his brother-in-law Andy Amoroso delivering meat to supermarkets. (Think of the 1st Rocky move where Rocky trains at the meat market with hinds of beef). This is what they delivered to the stores.
Since meeting at a neighborhood candy store and playground in Brooklyn, NY more than 60 years ago, Nick has been at Joann’s side. On May 14, 1966, Nick and Joann married. They moved to Hauppauge, NY in 1969 where their children, Elizabeth, Nicholas (Nick), and Stephanie were born.
In 1973, Nick, two cousins and Andy moved to Florida and opened a cabinet shop in Longwood, FL. They made custom cabinets for new construction homes as Central Florida began to boom and build. The extended Campo, Amoroso, Morro and Orofino family was very close celebrating holidays and occasions together. The 11 cousins made Christmas videos. Nick watched these videos and other family videos just days before passing.
Nick coached flag football, Pop Warner football and little League baseball. Nick’s Father loved baseball and Nick and his family kept up the tradition.
At age 38, Nick had a heart attack and left the business. He did volunteer work at Florida Hospital, Altamonte for several years. They even named the golf cart, used to transport people from the parking lot to the hospital, the “Nick mobile”. Nick then volunteered at the COPS center for the Altamonte Springs Police Department for many years. He received many awards from them along with the Presidents Volunteer Award.
In 1991, Joann was the part time evening assistant at the Youth Ministry Office at Annunciation Catholic Church and one of the staff members asked if Nick could help “lock-up” the Church at night. Nick soon became the Annunciation Church Security Department of one. Through the years, Nick helped to recruit and hire retiring Altamonte Springs Police Officers to the Security Team.
Nick loved helping the nuns get home at night and the school children get safely to their cars each day after school. Nick spent 40 years serving the Church. For many years he served as an usher at the 12:15 mass and because he greeted everyone like family, was known as the “kissing usher”.
Nick was known by several names including Papa, Uncle Nick, Godfather and while traveling in Greece, his fellow travel companions crowed him “the Greek God Nikolopoulos” complete with a crown of olive leaves and a tablecloth garment.
Nick and Joann enjoyed many adventures in Europe and Africa with their niece Lisa Amoroso, brother-in-law Richard Vulpi and cousin Felix Forte. The Kopcha family, Steve, Ann Marie, and Carey also traveled with them on many occasions. He could often be found sneaking off with his friend Steve for a cigar or coffee, or Richard for bottles of Ozou.
Nick and Joann were blessed with five wonderful grandchildren who they adore. Thomas Malik, “Papa’s Boy”, Samantha Malik, “Sissy Bug”, and the Campo girls Caitlyn June, Caiyla Jo and Nicole Elizabeth. Most recently, they gained a bonus grandson, William.
On most days when you drove by the Campo home, you would find Nick sitting in the garage, relaxing in his chair, smoking a cigar, and greeting neighbors, friends, and family as they passed.
Nick passed peacefully at home on February 8, 2023. His family soon gathered around him as he would have wanted.
The heart of the family may be in heaven with his other family members but those that he leaves behind, wife, children, grand-children, nieces, nephew, brother-in-law and many friends. will miss stopping by to say hello while Nick watched his western or war movies. Nick loved people and all that met him loved him back. He never met a stranger. We will continue the traditions and keep the family close.
Nick is predeceased by his father, Emanuel (Nick) Campo, mother, Bettina (Betty) Campo, sister, Prudence (Cookie) Amoroso and brother-in-law, Andrew Amoroso.
Service for Nicholas Campo is on February 23rd at 10am at The Church of Annunciation.