Obituary of Ronald Joseph Campbell

Ronald Joseph Campbell

1936 – 2025

Ronald Joseph Campbell, 88, of Rome, passed away peacefully on Tuesday May 13, 2025, at Rome Health, with his loving family by his side. Ron was born in Rome, NY on July 07, 1936, son of the late Eugene and Eleanor Friery Campbell. He attended Rome schools and graduated from Rome Free Academy in 1954. Ron proudly served in the United States Navy Reserves from 1954 – 1962. During his time in the Navy Reserves, he earned an associate’s degree in business from Mohawk Valley Community College. On July 30, 1960, he married the former Edwina “Winnie” Carol Lazicki, in Transfiguration Church, in Rome, a blessed union of nearly 65 years. Ron was employed as a Senior Subcontract Buyer with General Electric in Utica, NY for 34 years, retiring in 1993. While retired, he was proud of the ten years spent working in the records office of Rome City Hall. 

Ron was an avid fan of the Green Bay Packers, the Detroit Tigers, and the Syracuse Orange. He enjoyed playing golf and was a member of the Sleepy Hollow Golf Club. Ron achieved his first ever Hole-In-One in October of 2003 while playing a round of golf with his wife Winnie at Sleepy Hollow. He and Winnie also bowled in the league at Mohawk Lanes for several years. Ron was fond of the memories he made spending countless summers vacationing with Winnie and their family in Eagle Bay, NY. Ron was a member of St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church in Rome, a former president of the Rome Jaycees, a past Grand Knight of the Knights of Columbus, a member of the Lake Delta Yacht Club, Griffiss Ski Club, Rome Optimist Club, as well as past Chairman and Treasurer of the Republican Committee. Together, Ron and Winnie enjoyed their many trips to Atlantic City and Seneca Casino. Ron and Winnie shared an unbreakable bond of love and friendship and cherished every moment spent with their children, grandchildren and great-grandchild. They were together wherever they went and spent sixteen years alongside each other as ushers for Turning Stone Casino.

Surviving besides his wife Winnie, are three daughters and a son; Lisa (Dan) Cihocki, West Leyden, NY, Lynne (Tim) Faroni, Horseheads, NY, Scott (Christa Matyka) Campbell, Greenwich, NY, and Leigh (Frank) Fragapane, Rome, nine grandchildren; Colton (Abby Brummer) Cihocki and Cami Cihocki, Marissa and Julia Faroni, Kathryn and Nicholas Campbell, and Allison (Anthony Sticca), Alexis, and Alanna Fragapane, and one great-grandchild, Bowen Cihocki, sisters-in-law; Jean Campbell, Fran Maurel, and Marjorie Lazicki. He was predeceased by his parents, Eugene and Eleanor, his brother, Robert Campbell, brothers-in-law, Victor Maurel, and Edwin Lazicki.

The family wishes to extend a special heartfelt thank you to the staff at Rome Health Emergency Room and 3^rd Floor Residential Care Unit, for their care and compassion shown to Ron during this difficult time.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Tuesday May 20, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at St. Paul’s Roman Catholic Church, 1807 Bedford Street, Rome, with the Rev. Robert F. Kelly officiating. Family and friends are invited to call at Strong-Burns and Sprock Funeral Home, 7751 Merrick Rd., Rome, on Monday May 19, 2025, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Burial will be in Evergreen Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Ron’s name may be made to American Heart Association, 125 Business Park Drive, Ste 106, Utica, N.Y. 13502, or online at www.heart.org, or American Cancer Society at New York | American Cancer Society.