Wayne Campbell

He is predeceased by his mother Hazel, father Lorne, brother-in-law Joey Schutz (Laurie), and daughter Katey. He leaves his wife of 55 years, Helga, daughter Leigh, grandson Aidan and granddaughter Livia. He is also survived by his brother in law John Schutz, brother Vernon Beck and nieces Amy Sawyer (Glenn) and Jennifer Beck.

Wayne was born in Niagara Falls and attended A N Myer SS, where he participated in track and field and wrestling. He was also captain of the Myer football team that won OFFSA in 1966. He played in the minor hockey leagues, including a team memorialized on the Sports Wall of Fame. He was also on the Junior B Hockey Team, and in one game with the Niagara Falls Flyers. During summers, he was a lifeguard at the Cyanamid Pool. When Wayne graduated from A N Myer SS, he was invited to try out with the Hamilton Tiger Cats football team, and received a football scholarship to attend Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, BC. He attended one year, then transferred to Western University in London, where he played on the Hockey, Wrestling, Track and Field, and Football Varsity teams.

Wayne loved being involved in politics. He first ran for the former Niagara South Board of Education in 1980 and served 5 years as a trustee. He succeeded in being elected Alderman for Niagara Falls City Council in 1985, and topped the polls in the 1988 election. From 1986 through to the end of 2014, Wayne was on City Council for a total of 28 years. Wayne loved his city and loved helping people, especially those most in need. He learned early on that his responsibility in decision-making was to prioritize the best interests of the people he represented, rather than focusing on his chances of re-election. He served on many Council Boards including Culture, Transit, Hydro, Homelessness, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. He was a strong supporter of Heart Niagara, volunteered with Heart and Stroke, and was Chair of the United Way. In his political roles, and as a volunteer, he relished being involved in the pulse of the community.

Throughout his high school years, starting in grade 12, and through University, Helga was by his side, and she turned out to be the love of his life. They married in 1969, spent a year in London while Wayne finished his Physed Degree, and Helga got her teaching Diploma at Althouse. Wayne then got a Fellowship to do his Master's Degree at the University of Saskatoon in Saskatchewan with a cardiologist involved in cardiac rehabilitation. Saskatoon was a life-altering experience: new community, new identity, new friends that have remained lifelong, though as far spread as Victoria BC and Thailand. Wayne always felt that ‘Moose’ died when they went to Saskatoon. The two years spent in Saskatoon were at the height of the ‘hippie’ era, and Wayne and Helga did their part living with others in a large house, but soon realized the ‘peace’ mantra didn’t always connect with the reality of closely living with others. When Wayne got his Master's Degree in 1972, former Prime Minister Diefenbaker placed the cap on his head at Convocation. At the time, Saskatchewan was in a recession, and jobs were scarce. Although Helga was teaching, opportunities in Wayne’s field were limited, so he spent several months working for the CPR railroad. With no family or job commitments, they decided to spend a year traveling in Europe.

The eight months spent in Europe were a second life-altering experience. On the way to the airport in Toronto, they were listening to the 1972 hockey game between Canada and Russia and heard Paul Henderson score the winning goal and saw the cheering on the streets. They arrived in London and left for Germany where Helga had relatives. They bought a car, a Ford Taurus station wagon they named Leo, and it became their home for eight months; kitchen in the front seat, bed in the back. This took them through Germany, Austria, Italy, the former Yugoslavia, and Greece, where they spent time in Athens and then a month on Crete. They returned to Italy, then through France and Spain, where they spent a month in a villa on the Costa del Sol. From Spain, they took the boat to Morocco, and while there for a month visited Fez, Marrakech, Agadir and the Atlas Mountains. Upon returning to Spain, next stop was Portugal, then back to Holland where they sold Leo, hitchhiked back to Germany and flew home. They had bought the book ‘Europe on Five Dollars a Day’. The eight-month trip cost them $2,800.

Upon returning home, Wayne decided to put his Degree to use and established the Cardiac Rehabilitation Clinic with Dr. Stafford Dobbin. He also became the Coach of the Niagara Falls Flyers for a year. He began working toward his PHD through the State University of New York at Buffalo, completing all course work but never finishing his dissertation. Private consulting became difficult during the recession of the early eighties, and Wayne began studies toward his teaching degree at Medaille in Buffalo. With that, he began his teaching career with the District School Board of Niagara, teaching at Myer, Westlane, Eastdale and Stamford. In getting his teaching degree, he found his calling. At Stamford he found his niche dealing with ‘behavioural’ students, as he felt he could relate. He loved going to school every day; it was his passion. He had called the school’s police officer to help him deal with a student he knew was dealing drugs. When he brought the student into his office with the officer there, the student attacked the officer and Wayne had to intervene. That was the moment he decided school “Was no Country for Old Men”, and felt it was time to retire. He retired happy and fulfilled.

Life-altering experience number three . . . his daughter, Katey’s death in 2013. There is a saying; what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger. And for Wayne, it helped him be more compassionate, more understanding of his own ADHD, its impact, and the impact of all mental health conditions on the lives of people. It made him a better person. To preserve Katey’s legacy, Wayne and Helga established the Katey Marie Campbell Fund through Niagara Community Foundation which supports individuals struggling with homelessness and mental health issues.

Cremation has taken place. A Celebration of Life will be held at Fireman's Park, 2275 Dorchester Road, Niagara Falls on Friday, April 11, 2025 from 3:30 p.m. until 6:30 p.m.

The family has been comforted by the many reflections of the impact Wayne had on students and people’s lives, and thanks everyone.

Contributions to the Katey Marie Campbell Fund would be appreciated.

Fond memories, special photographs and condolences may be shared below for the Campbell family.