George S. Campbell

George Stuart Campbell, died on October 15, 2022, at the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, Mansfield, CT. He was 95. He is survived by his two sons and their wives: Robert Campbell and Judy Wakefield Campbell of Willington, CT, and John Campbell and Leslie Muzingo of Mobile, AL. George was predeceased by his wife, Roy Evelyn Campbell. George retired in 1988 from the University of Connecticut. He was originally hired by UCONN as the first Head of its Department of Aerospace Engineering when the department was created in 1963. Years later, he oversaw the department's merger into the Mechanical Engineering Department. He taught some of the earliest computer science courses offered at UCONN, starting in the days of vast computers running FORTRAN code on punch cards. George was born in Sauquoit, NY in 1926. He received his B.A. (1947) and B.A.E. (1948) from Rennsselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) and earned his Masters (1951) and Ph.D. (1956) in Aeronautics at the Califormia Institute of Technology (CIT). While studying, he was a part-time Instructor at the University of Southern California. He joined the Navy, serving honorably until 1959. His early professional jobs included as a research scientist at the NACA (the predecessor to NASA) from 1947-53, and as a Senior Staff Scientist in the Space Systems Division of Hughes Aircraft from 1954-63. His research led to dozens of technical publications in Aeronautics, Fluid Mechanics and Heat Transfer. His education and career were full of honors and awards. At home, George's intellect and energy had a wide variety of outlets. He taught himself French. He studied pottery, making hundreds of pieces: in typically technical fashion, he created a detailed analysis of glazes and kiln temperature. He sought out the newest music: much to the confusion of his sons (and likely his wife), he introduced the family to brand early electronic music by new modernist musicians Phillip Glass and Laurie Anderson, as well early recordings by more main-stream musicians like Janice Joplin, King Curtis, The Clash, The Talking Heads, Bananarama and The Tom-Tom Club. Never one to be idle, he built a log fort for his young sons and their friends, dug holes in the yard for drainage, and walked the neighborhood until his declining health led to his residency at MCNR. In addition, George and Roy raised two boys, both of whom are grateful for his care, example, guidance, and love. Calling hours will be held on Saturday, October 29, 2022 from 10 A.M. - 12 P.M. at Introvigne Funeral Home, Inc., 51 East Main St., Stafford Springs, CT. Burial in Storrs Cemetery, Storrs, CT, will be held privately. To leave a condolence online for the family, please visit: www.introvignefuneralhome.com