2008 Photos
Gerald B. Campbell,
September 23, 1922 - October 2, 2008
My father died of a stroke suffered on his 86th birthday at his home in Henderson, Nevada.

A Man Of Letters

Pop in 1984

Long-time Detroit typographer and calligrapher Gerald B. Campbell, 86, has died in Henderson, Nevada, a week after suffering a stroke. Born in Lansdowne, New Brunswick, Canada, on September 23, 1922, he graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1940. During World War II he served with the Second Armored Division ("Hell on Wheels") and saw combat in North Africa, Sicily, Normandy, and the Battle of the Bulge.

He became the founding president of the Graphic Artists Guild in 1968, and taught typography and calligraphy at the Center for Creative Studies for 17 years. His company, Campbell/Isbell Alphabets, designed dozens of typefaces and hundreds of logos and special typography for the automotive industry. He designed the masthead of the Detroit Free Press, and the calligraphic "Cadillac" nameplate.

In 2001 he was honored by a special presentation of his works and his work methods at Zapfest, An Exhibition of Calligraphic Type Design for the Digital Age, in San Francisco.

He was a musical demon, proficient on harmonica, accordion, and ukulele, and an accomplished athlete, playing softball until he was 75 and golfing well into his 80s.

He is survived by his brother Earl "Curly" Campbell (Jean) of Georgia; his daughters Carole Campbell-Brooks (Steve) of Henderson, Nevada, and Mary Campbell, of Dearborn; sons Colin Campbell of San Jose, California; Scott Campbell, of Bloomfield Hills; Matt Campbell (Nancy) of Santa Barbara, California; and Gerry Campbell, of Dearborn; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Active to the end, he designed two new typefaces and made 15 oil-painting portraits in 2008, and was designing a logo for the San Diego "Step It Up" march against breast cancer on the day before he was stricken.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Veterans of Foreign Wars or the Alzheimers Association in memory of his late wife of 45 years, Martha Biecke Campbell, who passed away in 2004.