Terrence Brian Campbell was born in Aberdeen, Maryland on February 13, 1951. He died in Chimacum, Washington on March 28, 2019. He was predeceased by his parents and has a brother, Jack Allen Campbell, and a sister, Patricia Anne Campbell.
Terry attended Redondo Union High School in Redondo Beach, California (class of 1970). Later he lived in Washington, D.C., where he worked for U.S. News & World Report and for the American Cancer Society, editing their newsletter.
He came to Port Townsend nearly 25 years ago to work for a literary magazine. He then managed the Lawrence Street Apartments, and for many years was a beloved employee at the Port Townsend Public Library.
Terry was passionate about acting and theater. Perhaps his greatest role was as Man in A Perfect Ganesh with Key City Players. He was unforgettable as Trotsky (with a large axe in his head) in An Evening of One-Acts by David Ives with Port Ludlow Players. He was a lesbian nun and goat herder in A Very Lesbian Nutcracker at the Paradise Theater School. He played opposite Sy Kahn in a memorable WordPlay reading of Visiting Mr. Green. Other plays included The Madwoman of Chaillot, The Sunshine Boys, Under Milk Wood, Dark of the Moon (Conjure Man), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Amadeus, The Cocktail Hour, The Seagull, Much Ado About Nothing (Don John), The Monkeys of Plangon Hill, Stop Kiss, and Three Sisters.
One of his playbill bios described Terry as “an ardent lover of Beatles music with a passion for jazz.” Clearly the arts sustained and lifted him. He was an avid reader, a fine writer and poet. He liked to drive. He made us groan and laugh using his mastery of punning. He loved food, especially sugar. He believed there was intelligent life elsewhere in the universe and that they visit us.
Terry talked at length with close friends about spiritual living and searching for mystical experience. He loved Alan Watts. He had a keen interest in eastern spirituality and philosophy and completed a Vipassana workshop. A highlight of Terry’s life was a trip he took to Thailand with the Chiang Mai Project.
Terry was a fine Governor of thought and language, inspiring depth in sharing. He also had a tender heart and adored his cats, Tikka, Zoe and Dobbs, and many other animals. Those of us who had the pleasure of hearing him read poetry on Fridays during poetry group gatherings at the County Library can attest to his sensitivity, insight and wit.
Terry was delighted to be chosen recently to do a public reading from Piano Tides, our 2019 Community Read Book. He had a great time doing it and it comforts us who saw him just before and after that reading to know how happy he was, so close to the end of his life. He was one of the sweetest men we’ve ever known.
There is a Celebration of Terry’s Life planned for Saturday, May 11th from one to three o’clock at the Rotary Pavilion at HJ Carroll Park. It will be a potluck (no alcohol) and a time to share memories of this lovely man.
