Dr. John Blake Campbell

1934 - 2023

July 23, 1934 – January 28, 2023

John Blake Campbell, MD, age 88, passed away peacefully at his home in Belle Isle, Florida on January 28, 2023. "Jack" to his close friends and relatives is survived by his wife of 66 years, Mary. Jack was born in Minneapolis, MN on July 23, 1934 to John Blake Pugh and Wilda Betsy Weldon. He also had a stepfather, John Campbell. He attended Southwest High School where he was active in Football and Track and was Senior Class President. It is also in High School where he met the love of his life, Mary Jane Young.

Jack went on to attend the University of Minnesota and the University of Minnesota Medical School where he received his B.A., B.S. and M.D. degrees. Dr. Campbell's dedication and responsibility to medicine was established and nurtured during this early period in his career. During his final year of Medical School and after an 8-year courtship Jack and Mary were wed on March 1, 1958, in Minneapolis, MN.

After graduation from Medical School, Dr Campbell was commissioned as an Army First Lieutenant in the United States Military. His first posting was at Womack Army Hospital, Fort Bragg, NC where he served his Medical Internship. This was followed by his posting at Tripler General Hospital, Honolulu, HI where he performed his Pediatric Residency and then on to Letterman General Hospital, San Francisco, CA where he performed his Radiology Residency. He was Board Certified in Pediatrics in 1964 and in Radiology in 1968. In 1970, Dr. Campbell now a Lt. Colonel in the United States Army was assigned as Chief, Department of Radiology at the 600 bed, Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, Aurora, CO. In 1971 Dr. Campbell left the Active-Duty Military for the Military Reserves and moved into private practice joining the Radiology staff at Denver Children's Hospital. In 1977 he was named the Chairman of Pediatric Radiology at Children's. In 1989 Dr. Campbell was recruited to join the Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children to serve as the first Chairman of Pediatric Radiology at this new facility in Orlando, FL. During Dr. Campbell's years of medical practice he spent 12 years in active military service in the United States Army as a Medical Doctor and another 23 years as an Army reservist eventually retiring as a Full Bird Colonel with 35 years credit.

Dr. Campbell while maintaining leadership roles in his clinical settings, enjoyed an active academic career. He was Clinical Professor of Pediatrics and Radiology at the University of Colorado, Denver, CO and upon his arrival in Florida was named the Clinical Professor of Radiology at the University of Florida. He went on to hold these same positions at Florida State University and the University of Central Florida. He authored or co-authored numerous professional book chapters and peer-reviewed articles. He was honored to serve as Visiting Professor at 38 institutions and was a featured faculty speaker at 56 post-graduate courses. He delivered 112 presentations at professional society meetings and gave 32 lectures internationally. He was a pioneer and renowned expert in Pediatric Radiology with an extensive reputation in the U.S. and abroad. He was a highly respected examiner for the American Board of Radiology and was a long-time manuscript reviewer for four of the major radiology journals. He formed (and named) the Society of Chairman of Radiology in Children's Hospitals (SCORCH) and was its Inaugural President.

In life Jacks passion was Medicine, his love was for his family and his mistress was Golf. In his prime he was a 4-handicap golfer and played the game on courses around the world. From Pebble Beach which he played often when he was stationed in San Francisco, to The Old Course at St Andrews Links, Valderrama in Spain, Kawana in Japan and Augusta National in Georgia, all told he played on 32 of Golf Magazines top 100 courses in the world. He held memberships at Heather Ridge Country Club, Aurora, CO, Denver Country Club, Denver, CO, Lake Nona Golf Club and Rio Pinar Golf Club both in Orlando, FL. He was fortunate to play many of these courses with his wife Mary a low handicap golfer in her own right.

Upon Dr. Campbell's retirement from active Military Service, he and Mary settled in Aurora, CO. They along with their children enjoyed the many outdoor activities that Colorado has to offer especially their condominium at Keystone Resort. Once they moved to Florida their home on Lake Conway saw numerous visits from their Children, Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren who would reside in their home and take in the local attractions, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and of course Gatorland.

In addition to his wife Mary, Dr. Campbell is survived by his three children Catherine M. Williams and her husband Steve of Parker, CO, Judith A. Campbell-Poltorak and her husband Paul of West Hartford, CT and James B. Campbell of Lexington, KY. Grandchildren Brandon, Ashely, Courtney, Meredith, Andrew, Katherine and Harrison and Great Grandchildren, Scarlet, Genevieve, Emry, Alden and Ledger. He is also survived by his three sisters, Mary E. Dodge of Crestone, CO, Jane A. Woods of Madison, WI, and Joanne E. Baumbarger of Westminster, CO and by two brothers, Jeffrey A. Pugh of Altoona, WI and Jay J. Blake of Sherman Oaks, CA.

Dr. John B. Campbell will be greatly missed by his family and friends and all those who had the good fortune to work with him professionally. Services and interment will be held in late spring in Colorado. Those wishing to honor him are asked to donate to Orlando Health, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children at https://give.orlandohealth.com/give/390303/#!/donation/checkout or the National Multiple Sclerosis Society at www.nationalmssociety.org/Donate