He was a man who, in his retirement, gave more of himself and his accumulated wealth than anyone could have expected.
But Alex A. Campbell Sr.B次元官网网址檚 body gave out on him too soon. The Thrifty Foods co-founder, community booster and philanthropist died early Tuesday morning at age 70, after a lengthy illness.
His wife, Jo, remembered her husband of 49 years as an B次元官网网址渁mazing man who loved life.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淗e constantly gave of himself to improve the lives of others,B次元官网网址� she stated in a release.
B次元官网网址淗e believed strongly in the importance of paying it forward B次元官网网址� giving back in gratitude of what you have received. His dedication to outstanding community service stands as an example to us all, and he will be dearly missed.B次元官网网址�
The Victoria-born Campbell worked to help various charities on the Island after retiring from the grocery business, both in a leadership role and as a face for fundraising efforts.
Campbell was a champion of the B.C. Cancer Foundation. He chaired its 2011 $10-million Inspire the World fundraising campaign and with his wife, Jo, donated $1 million to the 2009 campaign. That same year, the B.C. Cancer AgencyB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Island CentreB次元官网网址檚 new patient and family support centre was named in their honour.
Campbell also contributed more than $2 million in personal and corporate donations to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, but gave much more in terms of his time and energy.
B次元官网网址淗e was one of those people that made you want to be your best whenever you were around him,B次元官网网址� said Melanie McKenzie, the foundationB次元官网网址檚 executive director.
Campbell received numerous awards in the later stages of his career, as well as in retirement, including the Order of British Columbia in 1999 and a 2011 Leadership Victoria award.
B次元官网网址淚 used to kid him about his trophy room in his (North Saanich) home B次元官网网址� that itB次元官网网址檚 just mind-boggling,B次元官网网址� said a very emotional Ernie Skinner, who, together with Campbell, founded Thrifty Foods in 1977.
B次元官网网址淚 would kid him that he was going to have to expand it if he kept going at that rate.B次元官网网址�
Only a few close friends and family members were privy to CampbellB次元官网网址檚 private side, Skinner said.
B次元官网网址淗e could take a joke even if it was directed at him, which I made sure, in a lot of cases, it was,B次元官网网址� Skinner said chuckling. B次元官网网址淭hat was my duty as his partner.B次元官网网址�
Campbell was highly regarded for his people skills and business prowess.
B次元官网网址淚 think his business can be defined by his approach to people B次元官网网址� the good, the warm-hearted, engaged in community,B次元官网网址� said Victoria Mayor Dean Fortin.
With Campbell as CEO, Thrifty Foods, which grew to 20 stores on Vancouver Island, Salt Spring Island and the Lower Mainland, was named one of CanadaB次元官网网址檚 50 best-managed companies four years running.
Among his many accolades, Campbell was presented an honourary doctorate of laws by the University of Victoria in 2009. And given his generosity, leadership, unique customer service approach and humble personality, it was an easy decision for the business faculty to recognize him as its 2010 Distinguished Entrepreneur of the Year, said Ali Dastmalchian, dean of UVicB次元官网网址檚 Peter B. Gustavson School of Business.
B次元官网网址淗e really represented what this business school, in many ways, stands for,B次元官网网址� Dastmalchian said. B次元官网网址淗is thinking around service has always been ahead of his time.B次元官网网址�
Campbell was soft-spoken and humble, but he was a very competitive businessman, said Saanich Mayor Frank Leonard.
B次元官网网址淗e had the huggable-bear image in the general community,B次元官网网址� said Leonard, recalling times when he would receive a call from Campbell whenever he spotted fish being sold from a truck parked on the roadside.
Campbell would remind Leonard that the business didnB次元官网网址檛 have a licence and wasnB次元官网网址檛 paying taxes.
B次元官网网址淗e did everything by the book,B次元官网网址� Leonard said fondly. B次元官网网址淗e was one of a kind.B次元官网网址�
Details of a service are due to be announced in the coming days.
- with files from Don Descoteau
