This week our good friend Sammy passed away after a long illness. We met Sammy at the very first GaYBOR District Coalition meeting at 714 Bar in 2007. Immediately we became good friends. Sammy lived on the second floor above JJ’s Cafe on 7th ave & 16th in Ybor City.  Jokingly, we nick named him Sammy Camp-Easy. He was a very good story teller and liked to talk about his family, daughter, Italy, Cuba & the Tampa Bay gay scene. He was a good friend and fellow Italian Club member to our late photographer friend. Rex Maniscalco.

 One day Sammy invited us to go to the Italian Cemetery for a guided tour by him. He was such a great story teller that we asked if we could film him. Sammy said, “Of course!”  The cemetery was taken care of with manicuring hands. The cemetery even has an annual picnic! The pictures on the tops of the tombstones said so much and are quite unique. The history lesson that Sammy narrated was and is very much a historical documentary. The names, the people he related to where some of the interesting facts he instilled. What business they had! What town in Sicily they came from!  Interaction of small tidbits of his growing up and how they were related. Everyone in Sammy’s life was relation. Uncle, aunt or cousin!

We were told a story many years ago about a young soldier seen in the cemetery by some women cleaning and pruning the cemetery. He was dressed very smart in uniform. The lady was helped up by the young Italian boy and she asked who was his family? In turning around he just disappeared! We were told that the young soldier ghost had been spotted and was greeted a number of times by different people at the cemetery.

The short historical documentary was posted on You Tube with information on how to help fund the Tampa Italian society.

Then a couple days later, we received an upset letter from a gentleman from the Italian Club. We told Sammy that we didn’t realize that we had done something wrong. In full Sammy style he said, “Who wrote you? I know most likely know who ever it was! Oh don’t worry I will take care of it.”

The next day Sammy said, “I called my mother & she called his mother & everything is OK now!!”

LOL and RIP dear friend, Sammy!

Here are the links to the videos of Sammy

Sammy’s wake will be tonight 7-16-13 at the Boza & Roel Funeral Chapel. Located at 4730 N. Armenia Ave in Tampa. Please feel free to send Sammy’s daughter Ava condolence & good memories at avacampisi@gmail.com

    CAMPISI, Sam Joseph, 56, of Tampa passed away July 15, 2013. Sam is preceded in death by his mother Annie Cacciatore Lopez and father Victor S. Campisi. He is survived by his daughter Ava Summers (Jeff), grandson Sebastian Campisi Teabo, sisters Rosanne Marroco (John) and Carolyn DiNicola (Joe), nieces Michelle Creasy and Juliann DiNicola, step mother Grace Campisi, step father Frank Lopez,  former wife Ava Marie Campisi, aunt Dora Pardo and cousins Vince J. Pardo (Jan),  Enzo Pardo (Maria) and many other relatives and friends. Sam was born in Tampa where he lived and partied in Ybor City. Catholic graveside services will be held at 11 AM on Wednesday, July 17, 2013 at the L’Unione Italiana Mausoleum.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 PM on Tuesday, July 16, 2013 at Boza & Roel Funeral Home, 4730 N. Armenia Ave., Tampa, FL. Flowers will be accepted or contributions to the Italian Club Cemetery, P.O Box 5054, Tampa, FL 33675 would be appreciated.