Richard Stephen Cammarota

Richard Stephen Cammarota, 82, passed away on May 10, 2023. The son of Italian immigrants Stephen Cammarota and Mary Laurenty, Dick was born on April 29, 1941 in Schenectady, New York. “Dickie boy”, as he was affectionally called, grew up with his sisters Gloria and Elaine and a large extended Italian-American family.

During High School, Dick enrolled in Air Force ROTC, which he credits with changing the course of his life, helping him attend Union College and then Columbia University earning a bachelor’s and then a Master’s degree in English.

In college, he met the love of his life, Carol Joyce Brown, in a bowling alley in Schenectady. They married in 1964 just as he was entering the Air Force and soon after, Dick headed to Vietnam for a year of service. His military career was long and fulfilling. The Air Force again furthered his education by supporting the PhD he earned from the Pennsylvania State University in 1972. From there, he enjoyed many interesting assignments, including as faculty at the Air Force Academy, speechwriter for the Secretary of the Air Force, and Dean at the Air Force Institute of Technology (AFIT). Dick received numerous awards and decorations, including the Meritorious Service Medal, Legion of Merit, and the Air Force Longevity Service Award.

Carol and Dick raised their family as they moved from base to base and state to state. In his spare time, Dick enjoyed spending time with his family, running, playing the piano, going to the Symphony, and traveling. He and Carol especially enjoyed cruises with their longtime friends, Annette and Norman Fleig and Nicholas and Marty Raffaele. They cherished these times and always looked forward to the next adventure.

After a 27-year career, Dick retired from the Air Force as a full Colonel. Intellectual pursuit, however, remained an important part of his life as he continued to teach at the college level for many years and authored many articles.

Dick is preceded in death by his parents, Stephen and Mary Cammarota; his sisters Gloria Stampalia and Elaine Morris; and his niece Dina Rice.

In the words of Dick’s favorite author, James Joyce, he “lived and laughed and loved and left” but his legacy lives on through his wife, Carol; Children Mark (Mary) Cammarota and Robin (Paul) Devine; Nephews Giancarlo Stampalia, John Morris, and David (Echo) Morris; grandchildren Madeline Cammarota, Maxwell Devine, Mackenzie Cammarota, Finn Devine, and Maria (Bella) Cammarota.

Visitation will take place on Friday, May 26, from 2pm-3pm at Schoedinger Northeast Funeral Home, 1051 East Johnstown Road, Gahanna, OH 43230, with a memorial service beginning at 3pm. Services will conclude with military honors, recognizing Dick’s service in the Air Force.

Dementia took the most cherished aspects of life from Dick, his ability to communicate, to be mobile, and to use his intellect. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Alzheimer’s Association to help find a cure for this disease. https://act.alz.org/site/TR/Events/Tributes-AlzheimersChampions?pg=fund&fr_id=1060&pxfid=810542