Passings
The latter part of 2008 was marked by sadness as the CCS community lost several beloved alumni and faculty members.
Gerald B. Campbell (FA ’48), a long-time Detroit typographer and calligrapher, died in Henderson, Nevada after suffering a stroke. In addition to attending the College, he taught calligraphy and typography at CCS for 17 years. Canadian by birth, Campbell graduated from Royal Oak High School in 1940 and served with the Second Armored Division during World War II. He designed the masthead for The Detroit Free Press and the scripted Cadillac logo, as well as a wide variety of typefaces and logos with his company, Campbell/Isbell Alphabets. For more information about his life and career, please visit his son’s website: http://www.colin.org/Photos/2008Photos/GeraldBCampbell/Pop.html
Sylvia Rubin (FA ’79) passed away from congestive heart failure in Los Angeles on August 16th. Sylvia was born in Cleveland and moved to the Detroit area in the 1930s. After raising three children, she returned to her love of art by enrolling at the Detroit Society for Arts and Crafts. She studied painting and sculpture throughout the 70s. She proved to be a talented and accomplished artist, which gained her the respect and friendship of students and faculty. Near the end of her school experience, she was delighted to work with former CCS president Walter Meidner, who became her mentor and friend. In the word of her son, Andy Rubin (FA ’78), “As many people are apt to tell me when talking of my mother, she was a very easy person to like.
She will be sorely missed.”
CCS also mourns the loss of Chesley Odom (ID ’66), who passed away in September after complications from a stroke. Owner of Chesley Odom Design Associates in Belleville, Chesley was well known for his artistic contributions to the community. Some of his renowned projects include the Coleman A. Young Recreation Center in Detroit and the La Shish restaurants. Chesley was a former board member of the CCS alumni council and was active in CCS events, past and present. He was also a member of the Belleville Area Council for the Arts and a winner of St. Anthony’s Catholic Church Men’s Club ‘Man of the Year’ award.
Beloved painting instructor Tony Williams passed away in October. Williams was a long-time faculty member at CCS who was considered one of Detroit’s most accomplished figurative painters. Known for his jovial spirit and great sense of humor, Tony Williams is remembered vividly as a larger-than-life character in Detroit’s art scene. In November, friends gathered at the Cass Café for a memorial service to share photos and memories about their colleague. CCS alumni and friends from the community were shocked and saddened by his passing. Many offered memories and shared sentiments on the Discuss Detroit blog http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/159678.html?1225777870.
