Michael Hall
Michael Hall passed away peacefully on October 1 at the Hospital Ajijic at the age of 82 with his wife Dona by his side.
Hall was born August 2, 1932 in Bexley Heath, Kent, England and as a child experienced many World War II adventures from being evacuated from London, going to sea at the age of 13, to becoming a Captain on the P&O line.
Hall worked throughout Southeast Asia as a marine insurance executive before moving to New York and then St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands for more than 20 years. He loved the sea and traveled on every ocean in the world, including many years sailing through the Caribbean with Dona on their yacht “WindWitch.”
The Halls came to the Lake Chapala area in 2007 and lived in the El Parque community in San Antonio Tlayacapan. There he enjoyed his life and held court with many close friends and visitors from around the world.
Hall, a Paul Harris Fellow, was active with the Rotary Club for several years and a soprano who enjoyed singing with the Barbershop Quintet. He was also very interested in saving Lake Chapala and snorkeled and charted information for Dr. Todd Stong, a local scientist and activist.
A celebration of life service for Hall was held on October 5 at El Parque’s clubhouse, where nearly 100 new and old friends joined the family.
Hall is survived by his wife Dona, sons Timothy and Scott, stepson Kerry and stepdaughter Kori, daughters-in-law Susan and Ingrid and five grandchildren.
His wonderful energy, smile and laughter will be forever missed.
Donations to honor Hall are being accepted for the Health Care Assistant Program H-CAP. The goal of this program is designed to educate men and women of the Lake Chapala area to learn professional health care. These skills will prepare them for jobs in private homes, nursing homes and medical offices.
Send donations via www.gofundme.com/fwji9o, or by mail to Dona Hall, 2163 Lima Loop PMB 98 Laredo, Texas 78045.
Dennis Ronald Campbell
Dennis Ronald Campbell passed away suddenly of natural causes on October 18, with his loving wife by his side at their home in Ajijic. He was 72 years old.
Campbell was born October 19, 1942 in Bellville, Ontario, Canada. He graduated as an avionics engineer from the Canadian Air Force at the age of 20. In 1979, Campbell and his family moved to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he was an avionics engineer for Saudi Airlines for seven years.
Once back in Nova Scotia, Campbell acquired a Master’s Degree in Education and Administration from Saint Mary’s University. He then went on to teach at King’s Tech. College in Kentville, Nova Scotia, until retirement. His love was teaching, and he was applauded by both colleagues and students alike, for being a richly gifted professor and individual.
After living as expats in many parts of the world, Campbell and his wife Toni unanimously agreed that Ajijic was the most congenial place in the world to retire. Here they established an idyllic life and a network of close friends. Campbell was able to continue his passion for teaching and volunteered at the Wilkes Center in Ajijic as an English instructor.
Campbell was a dynamic, larger than life, compassionate man whose sense of humor will be deeply missed by his family and friends.
Campbell is survived by his adoring wife, and best friend of 49 years, Toni; daughters Kim and Dia; grandchildren Maggie, Hannah and Dax, his mother Jeanne; siblings Cameron, Andy and Charlene; and his many close friends who he regarded as family both abroad and in Ajijic.
Michael Jasper Campo
Following a recent diagnosis of advanced stage brain cancer, long-time Lakeside resident Michael Jasper Campo, 77, died at home on Monday, October 20 in the presence of his wife of 16 years, Kenee Campo.
Campo was born on April 7, 1937 in Chicago, Illinois, and graduated with a B.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of Illinois. He began his professional career by designing an observatory for Nortronics Corporation in California, followed by several years in London, England as International Marketing Manager with ECCO. On returning to the United States, Campo launched an innovative printing products company in Monterey, California.
In 1980, as Worldwide Sales Manager for Pro-Log Corporation of Monterey, Campo introduced digital robotics to Asian engineers through seminars, traveling extensively in Singapore, China, Korea, Japan and Taiwan for over 18 years. He retired as a Vice President of Motorola, continuing marketing consulting for long-time Mexico City and Hong Kong business contacts.
Relocating permanently with his wife to Ajijic in 2001, he was active in Lakeside organizations, serving as treasurer of the Ajijic Society of the Arts for many years, president of Lakeside School for the Deaf, and on the boards of Cruz Roja IVC, Lakeside Little Theatre, and Condominium Arroyos Sur. He sponsored students at Jaltepec’s Technical University of Hotel and Hospitality Management, as well as supporting other local charities and cultural events. He was always ready to assist others in their charitable fundraising.
A private pilot for many years, Campo’s varied interests included horseback riding, reading, world travel and international cuisines and wines. He was regarded by his friends as an excellent chef for his culinary entertaining. Mike appeared in several LLT productions, as well as The Naked Stage. His sculpture instructor for over ten years was the renowned artist Estella Hidalgo.
In addition to his wife Kenee Campo of Ajijic, he is survived by children Tara Logan of Dublin, Ireland; Terri Campo and Milo Campo of Bullhead City, Arizona; step-daughters Dana Knight of Ajijic and Shawn Gardner of Portland, Oregon; grandchildren Daniel Logan, Rory Logan, Wesley Ziccarelli, Nicole Ziccarelli, Cameron Campo; great-grandson Carter Ziccarelli; sisters Marie Emmons of Las Vegas, Nevada and Joene Stoiber of Chicago, Illinois and brother Tony Campo of Elgin, Illinois.
Irene Elizabeth Johnson
Irene Elizabeth “Babs” Johnson died peacefully on September 26 in Ajijic.
Born March 5, 1925 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Johnson was a graduate of the London School of Economics. She served in senior Canadian public service and diplomatic positions as Commissioner of the Public Service of Canada, Director General of Manpower Training for the Department of Manpower and Immigration, and High Commissioner to New Zealand.
Johnson leaves behind her son Blaine, grandchildren Lisa Marie and Bianca, sister Madeline (Mimi), and numerous nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her sister Dona Marie.