Obituary of Anthony Joseph Campos

Anthony Joseph Campos of Trumbull, loving husband of Yvonne Campos for close to 61 years, passed away at the age of 85 on June 3, 2022.

Born in Mount Vernon, New York, Tony was the son of the late Andrew and Dora Campos and brother of the late Andrew Campos. Raised in Fairfield, he lived in Monroe for much of his life before spending his final years in Trumbull. Tony was a graduate of Roger Ludlow High School class of 1955, where he excelled in football and met his sweetheart and future wife, Yvonne Sutowski.

Tony enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1956 and served two tours of duty, both stateside and in Germany. He rose to the rank of sergeant and, throughout his life, was extremely proud of his service to America. Today, Tony’s name appears on the Veterans’ Wall of Honor on the town green in Fairfield.

In between his active tours of service in the military, Tony married Yvonne on June 24, 1961. For the next 60+ years, they were inseparable, sharing a lifetime together filled with love, laughter, family and friends, together creating cherished memories watching their own children grow and then their grandchildren.

For more than 25 years, Tony worked with Avco Lycoming in Stratford, where he was a quality control manager overseeing the manufacturing of tank engines. Later, he joined Plastic Tool Systems in Milford as general manager, where he worked alongside family members who founded and ran the company for close to 20 years.

Above all else, Tony was an extraordinarily loving husband, father and grandfather. A man of exceptional integrity, character and faith, he was known for his incredible kindness, work ethic, humility and selflessness. At all times, Tony had an unmistakable sparkle in his eyes and a warm, endearing smile that both captured and communicated his character. He was a true gentleman in every respect of that term.

Tony was happiest when he was with his family, tending to his gardens with meticulous care, fishing with his brother on the Long Island Sound, or dancing the night away with Yvonne at the old Grotto in Fairfield. Throughout the years, he could be found enjoying a bottomless cup of coffee over conversation and laughter, or clad in a cooking apron, preparing traditional foods and dinner with Yvonne on snowy Christmas Eves, right before prayers were shared and oplatek was passed around the table. Tony could also be found engaged in fierce egg-knocking competitions on Easter, or in his early family years, coaching hundreds of Monroe youth not only about baseball and football, but also about kindness, fairness and other big life lessons. During his retirement, Tony loved watching his grandchildren compete in their own games and activities. And throughout his life, at the end of many long days of work, Tony could be found gathered around the dining room table with his family for a homecooked meal, conversations about the day and a few good hugs.

His was a life well lived. Tony grew up in the 1950s, in an age when churches were filled and malls were closed on Sundays, when young men went off to foreign lands to serve their country, when “Earth Angel” played on the radio, which was Tony and Yvonne’s special love song. Throughout the years, Tony never lost sight of the importance of family, tradition, service and most of all, what really matters in life.

Tony is survived by his loving wife, Yvonne; his loving son, Anthony, and his wife, Donna; his loving daughter, Cynthia, and her husband, Steve; grandchildren Sarah, Stephen, Caroline, Michael, Danielle and her husband Nick, Alyssa and her husband, Alex; great grandchildren Olivia and Reggie; and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. The Campos family is exceptionally grateful for the care provided to Tony by his loving and dedicated caregivers over the past few years.

Calling hours will be held on Wednesday, June 8, 2022 from 4-8 p.m. at the Lesko & Polke Funeral Home, 1209 Post Road, in Fairfield Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, June 9, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Lady of the Assumption Church, 545 Stratfield Road, Fairfield with interment to follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (https://www.alz.org) in Tony’s memory. For travel directions or to sign his online guest registry, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com