In Memoriam: John “Buzz” Campbell

GAWDA extends its condolences to the friends and family of industry-legend John “Buzz” Campbell, who passed away on March 24, 2026, at the age of 90.

His family submitted the following obituary:

John R (“Buzz”) Campbell passed peacefully on March 24, 2026 at his North Hill Community residence in Needham Massachusetts, at the age of 90.  He had been recently diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer.  Buzz, as he is affectionately known to all, is survived by his loving wife of 68 years, Caroline Collina Campbell, and two children Lori Frieling (husband Bob) of Wellesley MA and Jack Campbell of Fairfield, CT.  Buzz and Caroline were fortunate to share their lives with seven grandchildren: Grant Frieling, Carly Frieling, Casey Frieling Brondky (Ben), Taylor Frieling, Alyson Campbell McAlister (Bryan), Hilary Campbell Bhatia (Kieran) and Matthew Campbell.   Buzz is also survived by 4 great grandchildren; Madison, Sawyer and Savannah Frieling and Teddy Brondsky, as well as his loving brother and sister-in-law Kent & Alice Campbell of Andover MA, and their children and grandchildren.

Buzz was born Sept 10, 1935 at Boston Lying In Hospital, to his parents John and Bobsy Campbell, and grew up in Wellesley Hills.  He met Caroline in the 7^th grade,  and they dated through their high school and Buzz’s college years at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, where he was a mechanical engineering major, PKE member and Navy ROTC candidate.  Immediately upon graduation, Buzz and Caroline were married at St. Paul’s in Wellesley and Buzz commissioned as a Lieutenant JG in the Navy.  Over his 5 years as an aircraft carrier pilot, he flew North Atlantic missions piloting the Grumman S-2 submarine hunter-tracker, operating off the Valley  Forge, Essex and Intrepid carriers based out of Norfolk VA.  Upon honorable discharge from the Navy, Buzz joined the industrial gases company, Air Products & Chemicals in Pennsylvania, where he had global sales and marketing leadership roles including all continents (except Antarctica, where we’re sure he’d loved to have opened a gas plant, too).  Buzz went on to become EVP and COO of AGA/Burdox US business in Cleveland Ohio, before starting his consulting business JR Campbell & Associates and publishing his trade magazine Cryogas International,  and moving back to his and Caroline’s roots to the Boston area.  He piloted his consulting firm and team for over 40 years, never losing the joy of combining business, science, travel and long-standing friendships.  He continued to consult with clients up to his 90^th birthday.  In 2016, Buzz and Caroline moved from Wayland MA to the North Hill Community in Needham MA, where Buzz developed weekly current events seminars, speaker series, and was an active member of the North Hill resident finance committee.  Buzz developed and maintained many lifelong friends from RPI, the Navy, Air Products, AGA/Burdox, IOMA, his consulting firm, Weston Golf Club and most recently North Hill.  He will be universally remembered for bringing intelligence, curiosity and unbridled enthusiasm to every  colleague, friend and family member who was fortunate to know him.

Buzz remained deeply connected to RPI and to his beloved Class of 1957 classmates throughout his life. He generously gave both his time and his resources to strengthen the RPI community, most notably through his support of the Class of 1957 Spectrum Award, ensuring that current and future generations of students will benefit from the same opportunities that meant so much to him. Those who wish to honor Buzz’s legacy may consider making a gift, in lieu of flowers, to Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in support of the Spectrum Award Fund in his memory. Gifts may be mailed to the Gift Processing Department, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, PO Box 3164, Boston, MA 02241-3164, or made online at: https://impact.rpi.edu/project/3034.

In recent years, Buzz continued to work with GAWDA and Welding & Gases Today. Some of his recent columns can be read here.