Juan Campelo, September 04, 1938 — February 12, 2019

Juan’s Obituary Juan Campelo, 80, of Long Beach, California, passed away on February 12, 2019. He was born to Rogelia (Bayo) and Manuel Campelo, in Havana, Cuba, on September 4, 1938. He met Araceli, the love of his life, at the age of 15, and they married in 1960 in Havana.

Together they fled the Communist regime and came to the United States in 1961, seeking freedom and a future for their family. They arrived in Savannah, Georgia, where their daughter Lourdes was born, before moving to Long Beach in 1964, where their daughter Maria Araceli was born. Juan graduated from Colegio La Salle Vedado of Havana in 1957, and was an active member of their alumni association in exile.

He started studies at University of Havana, and later completed his undergraduate degree in business administration from California State University, Long Beach. He went on to receive an MBA from Pepperdine University and a Master in Accounting and Financial Management from Keller Graduate School, and was active in professional accounting organizations. Juan was a respected finance executive and professor.

He began his career in Long Beach as an accountant for American Can Company, moving with his family to Venezuela in 1974 to manage the company’s financial operations there. He later became comptroller for Venezuela’s Seagrams affiliate, and upon returning to Long Beach in 1984, was a professor of accounting and business management at DeVry University for many years. Juan had an immense faith in God, selfless devotion to his family, and great love for his adoptive country.

His passion was his family, and he spent all his spare time with his loved ones. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, and cousin. Juan was an avid reader and history buff, and enjoyed cooking and opera.

He loved adventure and travelled extensively with his family. He was also an active member of the Long Beach Rowing Association, where he rowed for over 30 years. Juan is survived by his loving wife of 58 years, Araceli; daughters, Lourdes Campelo-Garthwaite and Maria Araceli Campelo; son-in-law, David Garthwaite; grandchildren, Alexandra and Michael Garthwaite; brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Santiago and Nayra Valdés; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his older sister, Maria Humara. Visitation, Funeral Mass and Committal Service are in the care of All Souls Mortuary, Long Beach, California.

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