Frank Jason Campisi of Aurora, Ohio, Dies August 19

Frank Jason Campisi, (78), of Aurora, Ohio, passed away on August 19, 2023 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. He left behind a beautiful story for all of his loved ones to remember for years to come. They will honor his legacy by living their lives to the fullest and creating their own stories with his memory close to their hearts.

Frank was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 13, 1945, the only child of Frank and Margaret (Heine). He grew up on Long Island in the town of Hicksville, New York, before heading upstate for college. He met the love of his life, Marie (Rauso), at the State University of New York (SUNY) Oswego, where he received his BA degree in Industrial Arts. Frank and Marie raised 2 daughters, Lauren (Michael Smit) and Kara (Gregory Cran), in East Quogue, New York. He was a proud Poppy to 4 grandchildren, Lia (Smit) and Aidan, Lily, and Dylan (Cran).

Frank played baseball in college. He coached Varsity baseball and JV football at Westhampton Beach High School, where he taught Industrial Arts and drafting for 34 years. While teaching, he completed a Master’s degree at SUNY Stony Brook in Education. Frank was known for his incredible skills in the trades. If he didn’t know how to do something around the house, he would read owners’ manuals, watch YouTube videos, and figure it out. Much to his friends’ delight, his basement and garage were stocked with tools and Frank always offered a helping hand on projects.

One of Frank’s fondest loves was nature and the great outdoors. He found his own kind of spirituality in exploring the beauty of the natural world. Frank’s gardens and landscaping reflected that beauty at every turn and were the envy of his neighbors. During his retirement in Grantham, New Hampshire, if he wasn’t playing golf, tennis, pickleball, downhill skiing, or video games, you’d find Frank outside nurturing his garden.

Frank had many interests and found joy in the simple things. He loved sports cars, a good stereo and sound system, dancing and dining with his wife, traveling to US National Parks, skippering boats, eating vanilla soft-serve ice cream, visiting with friends and family, bird watching, making house guests pancakes for breakfast, and cheering on his grandchildren while playing sports or producing theater events. Frank loved his family fiercely and loved his friends like family. He will be greatly missed by so many.

A memorial gathering will be held from 3-4 PM Saturday, August 26, 2023 at Johnson-Romito Funeral Home, 9819 Darrow Rd. (Corner of Rt 91 & Post Rd), Twinsburg, OH 44087 where a closing service will begin at 4 PM.

In lieu of flowers, the Campisi family asks that you plant a perennial, shrub, or sapling in Frank’s honor to continue spreading beauty in the natural world. If you find a bright red cardinal perched on it, that may just be Frank’s spirit coming to say hello.

Donations can also be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (www.pancan.org) to further pancreatic cancer research.