Greg Campoli, 29
by Jen Colletta
Dec 15, 2011 | 15281 views | 12 12 comments | 43 43 recommendations | email to a friend | print
Philadelphia native Greg Campoli died last weekend. He was 29.

The cause of death has not been made public.

Campoli was born and raised in Northeast Philadelphia and graduated from Archbishop Ryan High School in 2000 before earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in psychology from St. Joseph’s University.

Campoli’s best friend, Amy McHugh, said he came out while in college.

He was in a fraternity at St. Joe’s, where his brothers were accepting of his sexuality, she said.

“All of those guys were really great and made the whole process really easy for him,” she said. “And since then, he never hid who he was. He had a very strong personality and was never afraid to be himself and call people out who weren’t.”

Campoli had an affinity for collecting quirky items, McHugh said, and had a vast compilation of Smurf and California Raisin figurines, as well as shot glasses from the locales he visited.

“I always made fun of him for what a pack rat he was,” she said.

Campoli never watched television but was very into music, McHugh said, and could often be found playing Mariah Carey and Celine Dion songs on Uncles’ jukebox on a Saturday night.

Uncles’ bartender Tony Lantz said he and Campoli became fast friends several years ago after Campoli began visiting the bar.

“He had a real presence,” Lantz said. “When he came into the bar, all heads turned. And that wasn’t just because he was a good-looking guy, he just had something about him that was very special and that people noticed. He had a way of lighting up a room.”

In the past few years, he became an avid fitness buff and was considering becoming certified as a personal trainer.

A technology enthusiast, Campoli was always looking for the newest gadgets to add to his inventory, McHugh said.

Among his talents, she noted, was his ability to bring humor to any situation.

“He had the biggest heart. He was very personable and had a smile that would light up the room,” McHugh said. “He had a great sense of humor; I don’t think I’ve ever laughed as hard as I always did when I was with him.”

Lantz said Campoli exuded positivity.

“He never had a bad word to say about anybody,” he said. “He spoke very highly of his family and his friends and cherished them. He would do anything for them.”

That open, affable nature made him a popular figure in the Gayborhood.

Lantz said Campoli would usually start his nights at Uncles and head to Tavern on Camac before making a tour of the Gayborhood hangouts, and would always head back to Uncles to say goodnight.

“He was pretty well-known and well-liked in the gay community,” McHugh said. “We joked that he had a following because there’d be a group of younger guys who were just coming out that were always around him. He’d take them under his wing and show them around the community and introduce them to people. He really touched a lot of people and meant a lot to so many people.”

In addition to his large circle of friends, Campoli is survived by his mother Patricia, sisters Michelle Campoli-Poll and Lisa, and niece Brittany.

Services had not yet been arranged by press time.

Friends have planned an informal gathering to remember Campoli at 9 p.m. Dec. 16 at Uncles, 1220 Locust St.

Comments
(12)
Comments-icon Post a Comment
anonymous
|
December 29, 2011
Why when somebody dies, the low life's come out and talk crap about the person who passed?

Really disgusting to hear such pathetic trash talk. Get a life.

Rest in Peace Greg.
SEAN TRISTAN
|
December 17, 2011
Regardless of the cause for Greg's passing, we just lost a young man in the gay community who was sociable and well-adored. As most are celebrating birthdays and enjoying Holiday parties, his friends and family are in mourning. My heart goes out to them.

There is more than enough labeling, prejudice and separation for the gay community in our society. For anyone feeling the need to write scathing comments in this or any obituary: Look in the mirror of the life you are living before you judge. Secondly, leave your insecurities and self-hatred inside your own souls as no one wants to see you channel its ugliness on here.
CB3
|
December 17, 2011
Amen!
Chris G
|
December 17, 2011
Lameo & Ms Rible,

I was completely prepared to write a nasty comment to both of you in regards to your comments. But it's just not worth staining the page any more than you both ready have. I only hope that neither of you ever has to experience the loss of a friend, brother, son, uncle or who or whatever you may be close with. No, Greg wasn't a saint, none of us are. But he is a son, brother, uncle, friend, and a member of our community. Try for one second to hold off on the nasty bitchy comments, and put yourself in the shoes of his mother...1 week before Christmas, grieving and trying to make sence of any this nightmare that she is living. Would you want your mother to see nasty things written about you? I am not casting judgement on anyone, let's just show some respect. Regardless of what you may have felt about Greg, you have to be able to scrape up some compassion for those he left behind. Please I am asking, no more nasty comments on these memorial pages.
Jay1970
|
December 16, 2011
Lameo,

I knew Greg quite well I seen him every weekend at Uncles and hung with him while he was there and went around with him when he traveled around sometimes. For you to speculate and say that Greg died from drugs is wrong because he never took drugs for your information. And you shouldn't have said that to begin with. Just to let you know that is not what he died from. I know what he died from but it not my place to say or post anything like that on here for one and you shouldn't have done that either. Greg was a very good guy he looked out for all of his friends even if you weren't a close friend he still looked out for you.

Regards,

Jay

Ms. Rible Person #2
|
December 16, 2011
Go to Facebook, Tony Lantz or Gio Ciaccio's posts, and find the tribute to Greg. Start playing and then stop at frame 1:30.

Didn't do drugs? What's in his mouth? Oh, sorry; I'm sure that's Pez!! Hmm
Ricky P
|
December 15, 2011
Greg was a great guy...kinda hard to talk to at times because he was around so many friends lol. Though he will be missed...I will deff put my prayers out there for him. RIP Greg.
dilruba79
|
December 15, 2011
Wether drugs or not, you can get trapped into a lifestyle and sometimes it's hard to pull yourelf out. Either way, he died and we need to repsect human life no matter what.

Bros for bros
|
December 15, 2011
uncalled for lameo, take your speculation elsewhere. GC, you will be missed.
lameo
|
December 15, 2011
most likely drugs.
Ms. Rible Person
|
December 15, 2011
Why is it when someone passes, they get elevated to sainthood?

I'm sure Greg volunteered at the soup kitchen and moonlighted teaching handicapped kids.

Funny, I don't remember the "Humor" and "Affable open" persona.

And what self-respecting homosexual never says a bad word about anybody? Cum on.
lameo2
|
December 16, 2011
Yeah, probably drugs. He was also an escort. The article forgot to mention that.