[1.1.07] - Rest in Peace

After an uplifting service on December 6th 2006, William was laid to rest after prayers and a military salute before a crowd of his family and friends. On December 7th he was remembered in Atlanta at Georgia Tech.


About the Site This Memorial website for Will Campbell was created by friends of Will in support of his family, friends, and anyone else his life touched. It is our hope that the site will be used by anyone affected by this tragedy--no matter how far or removed--can come together in forming a community of support and fond memories.

About the Accident click for a summary of the incident


Georgia Tech Memorial Service photos

 

	Cards and Flowers should be sent to:
	Sending to home: 13094 US-441 / Canal Point, FL 33438	Preferred Local Florists: Pahokee Florist Shop (561) 924-5575 The Potter's Garden (561) 996-0341
	Donations Please support these organizations and be sure to include the notation "in memory of William B. Campbell" 1. Georgia Tech Foundation account for Ultimate Frisbee These funds will be used by the student organization to allow purchases for food, travel, supplies or other expenses designated by the president or treasurer. Please make checks to Georgia Tech Foundation with "Ultimate Frisbee - in memory of William B. Campbell" in the memo line. 2. Gifts to support Crestwood Middle School Infinity Team (gifted program) in their field activities. William was the recipient of support during his years there and this could be used to support others as well. Checks may be written to Crestwood Middle School with the notation "Infinity Team" 3. Georgia National Guard Foundation 5019 Highway 42, Suite 203 Ellenwood, Georgia 30294-3438 (678) 569-5704, (678) 569-5702 http://www.georgiaguardfamily.org The Foundation's sole purpose is to provide emergency relief assistance to the members and families of the Georgia National Guard, our State's reservists and qualified active duty service members that live in the State of Georgia. 4. The Florida United Methodist Children's Home 51 Main Street Enterprise, Florida 32725 or through your local United Methodist Church 5. Special Operations Warrior Foundation P.O. Box 13483 Tampa, FL 33681-3483 http://www.specialops.org/contribute.asp The Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF) provides college scholarship grants, along with financial aid and educational counseling, to the children of Special Operations personnel who were killed in an operational mission or training accident. 6. Your local Literacy Coalition

Share your Memories This site itself was very recently created and is under heavy construction. Please free to direct any words or files that you want to make public to rememberingleppy@gmail.com Please state briefly your connection to Will (classmate, relative of a friend, soldier, etc) so that others can visualize his wide web of influence.
~ Friends of Will

---

 

Soham Vakil

It’s been difficult trying to put into words what I feel about Will, and I doubt I can do him justice. I certainly wouldn’t be able to match his caliber. This weekend, I saw a couple friends in a battle of, well, one-upmanship in giving each other a certain hand gesture involving a certain finger. After waiting for them to feel proud of “moves” they knew, I blew them both away with Will’s signature pantomimed move (if you were around Will for any significant period of time, you knew this elaborate act well):
             taking a folding table out of my jacket,
             unfolding it and setting it down,
             taking a safe out of my jacket,
             setting it on the table,
             dawning a stethoscope,
             using it to crack the safe (Will could milk time from this step),
             opening the safe and removing a small box from it,
             setting it upon the safe,
             opening the box, removing the “gesture” like a treasure,
             flashing it at the person,
             and quickly performing everything in reverse and putting it all away before the
             other person knew what just happened.

Will probably made modifications to the routine, but that is how I remember it from high school. Regardless, he was going to get you, and he was going to make you wait for it.

Anyways, jumping into his routine without hesitation made me realize that there are a number of small ways Will has influenced me even without my knowing. Aside from his major contributions, he stays with us in his pearls of hilarity that I’m sure plenty of us borrow occasionally.

I still way “what?” and act confused after I make a joke about someone and they respond with surprise.

I still have that same old hacky sack from high school in my bookbag.

Will, thank you for being you.


~ Soham, Andrew, and the Entertainment System…and of course the Nintendo

Ms. Cynthia Mancini

William was my student, along with his buddies Andrew, Soham and Jason, in AP English at Suncoast High School. I knew William as a person who loved to make people laugh, as one who enjoyed practical jokes. I'll never forget the day he pretended not to have any pants on (he used to wear these pants which unzipped at the knee and he had them in a puddle at his feet as he squatted down, just in time for me to make my entrance into the classroom). I remember the head roll the guys used to perform every time the bell rang; I think William started that. I remember those days with that class, with William leading most of the nonsense, as ones to cherish, all the clowning around included. I remember respecting William as a writer and a thinker, and I will always remember him as someone open to life's challenges.

I share in the sorrow of all of his grieving family and friends,

Brooke Marshall

Will and I were fellow Internet nerds/Atlantans/disillusioned college students.

Simply, he made me a better, stronger person.

Keith Loriños

Will's Letters while serving in the War:

1) Will's layover in Ireland en route to Kuwait, 28 March 2003



2) Postcard from Kuwait, 22 April 2003



3) Will's letter to Keith, 30 May 2003






 

Preeti Chhibber

~ Will with Preeti and co.


~ Will and Friends at Mannino's Too in Wellington, 2000
 

Andrew Sadowski

~ Blair, Keith, Ian, Will, Andrew, 2002 Canoe trip (For the record, Ian is in his underwear.)


~ After Katie supplied Will with a generous amount of sunblock


~ Will swims canoe towards waterfall, Canoe Trip, 2002


~ Will launches canoe over waterfall, Canoe Trip, 2002


~ Graduation Party, 2001



~ Will, Katherine, Andrew, Preeti, Junior Prom, 2000


~ Will and Jason, Junior Prom, 2000

James Stephenson

I guess this is my story about Will. Let me start by saying I am somewhat of a writer by trade and for the first few days after I heard the news, the words to describe what I felt or what my experience with Will was like were blank. I first met will January of 2004 after he got back from Iraq and had returned to Tech. I was moving back in after Christmas break with my mother and when I got to the suite, there was a stranger standing in the room opposite mine. He said hi to me and my first words to him were, “Who the ---- are you?” to which my mother promptly smacked me in the back of my head. Despite my rude introduction, Will continued to be friendly and slowly, but surely, we began to hang out. Perhaps if I had known that I would end up living with Will for a year and a half, I would have chosen different words—perhaps not.

Our first act together was to ‘borrow’ a brand new sofa that had been put in the fifth floor lounge in Woody’s. One night at 3 in the morning, we lug the heavy coach to the elevator and into his room. We banged so many walls trying to make the turn from the entrance hallway and into his room, I’m surprised we didn’t wake up half the building and have the cops called on us. To finish the story on the couch: no one ever came looking for it and we took it with us when we moved into an apartment off campus. If you look at any of the photos from that apartment, it’s the big blue one. It now sits in my apartment about ten feet away from me.

Our next memorable acts came when the fifth floor lounge got a pool table. We would and go shoot pool until five or six in the morning almost everyday and then be too tired to go to class the next day. Neither of us was good for the other’s GPA. Even when we were in the apartment off campus, one of us would come in and ask the other what he was doing, and usually the other would say ‘doing homework’ or something to that effect. Then the first would say, ‘do you want to go do something?’ to which the reply was always, ‘sure, why not.’ We were both lazy in a sense, but only lazy when the other person was around.

Often we would go do random things, such as go to Wal-Mart at 3 in the morning. We always had big plans for things, like building a bar in our apartment. Will came up with the name Jay-Dubbs, and we bought wood to make shelves and a bar. The project barely got off the ground. We rarely did anything that we planned, and rarely planned anything that we did. It was the nature of how we lived during that time. In essence, it was the college experience, and there perhaps isn’t a better person to have shared that experience with than Will. We became beer connoisseurs by starting at one end of the beer aisle at Kroger and working our way to the other, trying every beer that they had in stock. It took us most of the year that we were in the apartment off campus to accomplish this task, but we did it. We made a display of one bottle from each six pack that we tried, by lining them up in order of how we ranked them on top of the cabinets in our kitchen. Anytime a new person would come over to the apartment, we would proudly show off our display.

I remember one day coming back to the dorm room during finals week or dead week during the spring when I had a bunch of free time and asked Will if he wanted to go golfing. He had never been before, but he had two clubs: a lady’s driver and a putter he stole from a putt-putt course. His first time, he played like any first timer would, but he had fun and we went golfing on several other occasions. I can’t remember a single time, though, where Will followed the dress code of the golf course. Often we would be in a t-shirt and khaki shorts and, after the first hole, he would take off his flip-flops and walk around the golf course bare-foot. One time when we crashed the golf cart into a tree. The golf cart was fine and so were we, but we laughed our asses off for a while about that.

Perhaps the other main aspect that summed up my time with Will was when we were in the apartment, which was on the second floor with the steps inside our apartment. We could always tell when the other would have a story to tell because of the way the other person came up the steps and the look that he gave. Which ever one was in the apartment would always stop what he was doing so the other could tell his story of what had happened. We usually had interesting stories to tell because we are both the type of people that stuff always seems to happen.

I’m sure I could go on for pages describing various events that happened while I was with Will. But to some up my entire experience with Will, I will say this. Will was a friend of everyone he met. If he could befriend me after the type of introduction I gave him, he could befriend anybody, and did. He was certainly a character who could always make you smile no matter how you were feeling. He knew how to act around you during a given circumstance. For instance, I lost three people in my family while I lived with Will. Each time his response would be, ‘that sucks, man. Do you want a beer?’ and that would be the end of the conversation, but he knew that’s all he would get out of me and since I’m not someone to talk about how I feel, trying to do so was pointless. While everyone is ‘special’ in their own way, Will went far and beyond outside the norms of everyday people. He was perhaps unique in his own uniqueness, which gave him a quality that no one else could share. There is no one else in the world like him, and there never will be again. The world is a worse off place without him, because he showed that you can be good to people, no matter who they are. He was friends with all different types of people from all walks of life.

At his memorial service, the crowd was a diverse as can be but was unified in their memories of Will. His legacy is not that of a student or a soldier or a roommate, but as a friend to all who knew him, and it is through those who knew him that his legacy will carry on.

Sean C

Hey Will, I am hearing the news just now. I don’t think it’s fair or right.......but it is what it is.....the first time we met we played a who’s bigger game.....you're a man's man, my friend.......you will be loved and missed. Thank you for the memories.

Josh Fritz

William and I were 2 out of 6 guys who always hung out together. I remember many times I would come over to hang out and had to wake william up by bouncing him a foot off his bed and then jumping back because he would wake up swinging. I remember losing months to Simcity and then to Simcity 2000. I remember going bowling many times. I remember the bonfires we used to have, and the parties we would throw at them. William showed me that if you apply yourself you can be successfull at anything. We should all get together on his birthday (april 28th) and have a party.

Eric, aka "Chickens"

My first impression of Will was a get-together a bunch of people from the internet had at one woman's house one weekend like four or five years ago. Everyone was a bit nervous about getting together with a bunch of potential freaks. Will met me at the door and basically spent the next hour making sure I was normal enough to camp out in the back yard of his friend, the host of the weekend get together.

What got me was 5 foot nothing Will, maybe 120 pounds wet, protecting his lady friend from the over 6 foot, 225 pound leather clad biker who came to the door (me). But that was Will. He had the heart and was willing to be the knight in shining armor. He once again taught me the lesson that it's not the size of the warrior, but the will inside that makes the difference. The U.S. could use more soldiers like that.

I'm glad I knew you, pal. I hope we get together again someday in a better place.

Linda (aka CallieMollari)

I just heard about Will's accident and passing this weekend and was shocked to hear the news. He was far too young to die.

I'd met Will on a comedy message board several years ago. Although he was a young man, he was a very mature and intelligent person with a great sense of humor. One day while several of us were in the chat related to the message board, someone came up with the idea of making short clips of ourselves talking so that people could put a voice to the name when reading posts. Will made several silly voice clips and asked if I'd post them on my web server since he didn't have anywhere to upload them. Even though I've since moved on from posting at that message board and hadn't talked to Will, I still had those clips on my server and they came to mind when I heard the news.

I've included one in the hopes that being able to hear his voice and his wonderful humor again keeps his memory alive even brighter in all of his family, friends and acquaintances.

My condolences to his family and friends in their time of loss.

Dawn Pedersen

As thanks for his service to the United States, in 2004 I asked Will if I could do a portrait of him. He obliged by mailing me a photo of himself. Attached is the drawing I did for him. I believe that he liked it very much.

Jon Truxillo

I also meet Will on a comedy message board along with a group of people from all over the country that eventually became pretty good friends. He was one of a group of people that picked me up at the airport for our first ever comedy message board party in Atlanta. I first got to know Will that long weekend and he later drove me back to the airport after the festivities had ended. I saw Will a few more times over the years in Atlanta at parties, but that first long weekend was the longest and most memorable amount of time I ever spent with him. I also kept in touch with Will through the occasional email. Will had prestigious amounts of many very admirable qualities: intelligence, personality, sense of humor, charm and charisma. What I will always be the most in awe of however, was his maturity, ambition, direction and focus. My sincerest condolences to those of you, friends and family, that were so very close to such an exceptional young man.

Erin Knudtson

~ Junior Prom, 2000, Will with Ian, Keith, and Andrew


~ Prom, Will and date Katherine Morola



~ Will with Erin (stealing second base)

Caitlin Horan

I met Will last year when he agreed to coach our orphaned Ultimate team. Even though I couldn't play for almost the entire season, Will still encouraged me to come to practice and work on my throwing. Will certainly put up with a lot from our team, but he never threw in the towel and always pushed us to play better (and "be taller" :D). I will never forget the time Will yelled at the JV boys team for eating our cookies and scared them so badly that three of the most irresponsible boys on the team brought us cookies the next day. Thanks for everything, captain. We'll do our best in honor of you next season. WAFU will miss you.

Abby B

Every day we meet someone new. Sometimes there is no connection at all. Sometimes there is something more than a simple "hello" or "goodbye".

When we talk to another person, we tell them of our experiences, we tell them of ourselves. When that person walks away, they have in them a piece of you, a piece of your knowledge. They in turn have done the same for you.

That special knowledge that you have gained will be transported with you and when you next meet someone, you will give them a piece of that knowledge, and they in turn will do the same. On and on throughout the years, this cycle will continue, until a great and glorious Web of Learning has been established. The day we stop learning is the day we stop living, but we will have established a legacy of our self-knowledge, our memories, our lives. We will be immortal.

Will shared many thoughts, ideas, outlooks, jokes and memories with me. I have learned so much from him and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to know him, even if it was only for a couple of months.

Will once told me he planned to live forever. "So far, so good." he said, as he braked to avoid running a stop sign. I will carry a part of him within me and you will carry a part of him within you and as long as we remember him, he will never truly leave us. As long as we keep his memory within us, he will be there. And as long as we share those memories and ideals, he will be immortal.

Will: "It's not safe to meet strange internet people. Look at me. You met me and I'm a freaking crazy. I'm a crazy Crazy! Crazy? I was crazy once! They put me in a rubber room. A rubber room with rubber rats. Then I died. Then they buried me. Then the bugs ate me. Bugs? I hate bugs! Bugs drive me crazy. Crazy? I was crazy once..."

Jeff (vbob) Bainbridge

I've known Will for several years. We hung out together online on a nearly daily basis. I feel like I've lost a brother. It speaks to the remarkable quality of his character that he made such a powerful impression on everyone with whom he interacted. I'll never forget his wonderful sense of humor, his remarkable intelligence, his tremendous courage, and his marvelous joie de vivre.

The world needs more people like Will, and is a much poorer place for his passing. But he also left his mark on all of us, and we are greatly enriched by having known him.

Godspeed, William. You will be sorely missed.

Aunt Nancy

I want to thank each one of you who added to Will's life as well ~ and, especially, a very grateful thank you to "Will's friends and their family members" who surrounded my sister Janette, brother-in-law Glenn, and niece Eleanor in the Delray Medical Center and Canal Point with love this past week ~ you have truly been a blessing and provided much comfort to them. I am so glad that you were able to be there for them! Will touched each of us in very unique ways ~ he will be remembered and is probably laughing with others as he waits on us now, as he did to me his last Saturday afternoon on the phone after the Clemson Tigers loss!

Marcie Wise

This is one of my favorite pictures of Will. We often went on adventures to Wal-Mart at 3am and if possible, wrecked havoc on the Christmas department.

Dawn Pedersen

I knew Will from one of the online message boards too, for about five years.

We met in person in 2002 while I was on a business trip in Atlanta. He met me at the airport and drove me to my hotel. Should I mention that he lost track of where his car was at the airport, that he bumped into a neighboring car as he backed out, that he was nearly out of gas, and that he got lost in his own hometown, trying to locate the right freeway?

Sure, why not. He was 19 and can be forgiven. Especially since he was one of the nicest fellows I ever met. It was extremely thoughtful of him to be my shuttle, and we had a lovely late dinner at Applebee's together.

I was so proud of him later when he fought in the war and made it back safely to continue his college education. He was so smart and gracious. He was a man of character.

The hotel clerk took this photo of us.



Dawn in Sacramento

Elenor Click

Will,

Many people who are grieving from this unexpected tragedy knew you as a friend, family member, or partner in the Armed Forces, but me, I knew you as a coach. My sophomore year at Woodward Academy was the year a girl's ultimate frisbee team was introduced, so we formed a team and competed against other schools. At the time we were sure we had the best coach, and when we found out she was not returning the next year no one wanted to continue playing fresbee; needless to say we all came back the next year.

The only thing we new when we found out we were getting a new coach was that you were a student at Tech and had graciously agreed to give up your time to coach us. Never have a met a person who loves frisbee as much as you did, that was your passion! All you wanted was to share your passion for the game of Ultimate will others. So we all tried to focus and learn at practice even though some days were hard because of your great sense of humor. :) We all became like a family and shared so many fond memories and countless days of laughter together. Like all girls, we had our days when we didn't like each other and that were filled with constant bickering, but you always encouraged us to be a team because the game of frisbee can't be played unless your a team. You even agreed to have bonding time with us at one practice where it was a free open circle and we all had to let our feelings out and work through them together. If nothing else, you taught me one important thing... never settle for less, always strive for more and if you put forth the effort, you will see results. At every practice you pushed us to be a better, stronger, faster team. We occasionally would be angry at you for making us run so much, but now I realize it was only in the best interest of the team as a whole so we could be the best team possible! All you wanted was for us to learn to enjoy the game of Ultimate as much as you did.

I will never forget the times you brought me home from various tournaments and what-not because you only lived 10-15 minutes away from me. You were always so interested in seeing how life and school were going and what I wanted to go in college. We sat in your car and talked about life, and my plans for college. Never once did you say anything less than encouraging ones, you were always so encouraging and wanted me to know that if I stuck with it, I could do it!

From the time I met you all I heard was encouraging words from you and tips on how to be better at frisbee. You made me love frisbee more than I ever thought I could.

WAFU, the 2007 season of Ultimate at Woodward is dedicated to you Will; I hope we are all that you hoped we'd be.

Trae LeMay

My name is Trae and I too originally met Will through one of his online message boards about 5yrs ago, and through that contact met in person and became friends when he moved to Atlanta to go to school. This all just seems so surreal and incomprehensible to me right now. I must have stopped and started this letter a dozen times, unable to find the words to convey how much Will meant to me and my daughter. She adored him when he would come over for dinner now and then (he loved my lasagna). When he went to Iraq, he remembered how my daughter Madison liked to collect foreign currency so he brought her some from his travels. We were so happy to see him home safe, and experience one of his amazing hugs. He hugged you like he meant it, not like it was an expected gesture. I can't tell you how much he affected the lives of all who knew him and many who wished they did. He was a man of incredible honor and integrity and I miss him deeply. Please accept my sympathies and know that your son will live on in all who were lucky enough to call him their friend.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son

--Rudyard Kipling

Jason Carpentier

In middle school, when Will would leave class for the bathroom, he would wash his hands and definitely not dry them. In fact he would intentionally try to get them as wet as possible.

Then, on the way back to his seat, he would sneak up behind Soham at his desk, and wrap two cold, slimy paws around Soham's arm, and say

" Teach me how to pee ! "


~ Will (disco stud) and Soham (Frenchie), Halloween 1998

Ron "Hammerhead"

My name is "Hammerhead" and I only knew Will through a computer screen. I, unfortunately for me, never got to meet him in person, so it's rather surreal that I'm mourning a friend who I only knew by proxy. But I am also of the opinion that one lives on through their friends, and with the people who knew him best still praising him, it helps me to know him more. It would have been an honor to know him in person, and to his parents, closest friends and all of his "family", my sincerest condolences in this, your time of loss. His fire was snuffed out long before it should have been.

It is good to know that this warrior is now guarding the gates of Heaven, standing eternal watch until the final call to arms.

There's two dates in time they'll carve on your stone,
and everyone knows what they mean.
What's more important is the time that is known,
in that little dash there in between.

- Garth Brooks

That little dash there for Will was filled with greatness and laughter.

Crista Parsons

I knew Will from another one of his Internet message boards. Through there, I've exchanged jokes and friendly banter with him off and on for two years, and finally met him at the party some others have mentioned in Atlanta this past October. The fact that I actually knew him so little, yet this tragedy is affecting me so much, speaks volumes about what a great guy he was. So many of my close friends have such wonderful things to say about him, and every encounter I've ever had with him backs up all the positive things I've heard. He always managed to get a smile out of everyone around him, and had me literally laughing 'till my sides hurt more than once.

My thoughts and prayers are with all of his family and friends right now. You will be greatly missed, Will. I am so glad I got to know you even for the short time that I did - it was truly a pleasure.

Crista (Ditdah) Parsons

Karishma Reddy

I first met Will through my first summer league team. He always joked around with me and helped me with my techniques a lot, so when I heard he was hired to be a coach for my highschool ultimate team I was excited.  Will was just what our team needed. He pushed us at every practice to get better, run faster, and jump higher, but the thing I loved most about Will was that he  always believed in us.  He refused to let any of us settle and always pushed us to the next level. This upcomming spring season won't ever be same without him, but I hope we make him proud.  Will was one of the most spirted people I have ever met, and having him as a coach was a true privelege.

Keith Loriños

It's hard to put any memory of Will into words. It just doesn't seem like his antics could be fully appreciated unless you're there to witness the inherent unspoken humor in his expressions, hand gestures, and smirks, regardless of whether the things he did were grand or obscure:

Remember the unofficial class of '01 shirts?

He had a couple "magic tricks" too. In one he would ask to borrow a quarter. He'd place the quarter in his left hand and close it. Then he'd open up the hand again to verify that it was still there. Then he'd do some hand motions, say some magic words, and slap you in the face with his other hand. Then he'd keep the quarter. Fin.

Will: You should tell Jenny to come to the party. I sincerely want her to be there... I do.
Blair: I don't think she will... Will: Yeah, I really don't care.

"I invented a superhero.. Captain Obvious! He has an "O" on his chest, and his tagline is "The 'O' is for obvious!"

While I was hunched over a toilet after drinking too much... Will walks into the bathroom:
"Hey keith... you alright man? Here, I'll put this glass of water on the sink for you. You sure you're alright? I know this is a really bad time... but... hey... hey keith, SMILE!" and he takes a picture. "I'm sure you understand."

"So your roommates think you're crazy, huh? Well Ian and I are driving up so.... maybe we should show up in a U-haul full of manure. I can get the manure."

"Hey keith... I'm in new york. Can you give me a place to stay for the night? Yeah ok, I'll meet you there."
Later... "Hey keith, nice shirt... this is the frisbee team.. they need a place to stay too."

Kimberly Lenahan

After a frisbee game during the summer, Will and I went to get some drinks and pizza. I suggested a tour of Georgia Tech because I didnt know my way around and he loved the idea. So, we walked around tech, talking about life for hours and ended up at the football stadium, only lit by the moonlight. We proceeded to play the best game of imaginary football ever and joked about how HUGE the field was as we laughed and layed on the turf. I will always be thankful for all of my memories with him, but that one in particular.

AJ McLeod

My name is Sage and I had met Will at the party in Atlanta this last October. Even though I knew him for a short time, I still considered him a friend.

This brings up memories of what happened a little over a year ago to my daughter's friend. She was nine years old at the time (if I remember correctly) when she and her 11-year old sister were murdered by their father, who then committed suicide. When I had to break the news to my daughter, I was quite emotional and crying. She asked me, "why are you crying? You didn't even know them." My answer was, "Yes, I knew them; I knew them through you. You showed me what kind of girls they were."

Now, I may not have known Will for a long time personally, but the knowledge I have of him has been strengthened through all of you, his loving friends and family; for that, I am grateful. I understand Will wrote some poetry. I'm not much of a poet myself, but I have written something for him and I'd like to share it with you all.

Evening’s long, no inclination to sleep
Emptiness only from earth above and heaven below
I can hear the willow’s mournful weep
As I move out of the lamp’s warm glow
I wait to catch the moonlight when it comes
So that I may rage yet whisper a plaintive why
That my friend, as all good men, finally succumbs
Only this I ask, though there’s never a reply
Now, outside my window the moon presses the mountains tight
And joyful remembrance finally arises this night


My thoughts are with you, his family and close friends, during this time of sorrow and I know he will be greatly missed.

-AJ (Sage of Seattle)

Ashley Eckes

~ Junior Prom, 2000

Matthew Thompson

I was the captain of Will's summer ultimate team, "Bad Choice," this past summer in AFDC. There were a few items that struck me about him even when I first met him. He led in a military way, but was not militant in his leadership. He was both authoritative and passive in guiding people on the field and sidelines. He worked his hardest to do his best and to keep the game itself lively an fun. And outside of the game he did the same--he always seemed to work his hardest to keep things lively and fun. He valued camaraderie and friendship more than winning, he epitomized the primary tenet of ultimate frisbee- Spirit of the Game. Win or lose, it was about playing fair and good spirited ultimate that matter the most to Will. He never complained about a loss or gloated about a win, it was always about how to improve and how to have more fun while doing it. He is and will be greatly missed.
MLT

Doc

My name's Doc. I knew William (or Leppy as he liked to call himself, hee hee) on one of his favorite messageboards. He liked to talk about politics, his beliefs, his time in the armed forces, and other zany things. He had a great sense of humour. He also had a great sense of duty honor and justice as was evidenced by the things he said. He never tried to tear anyone down, and he always took the time to explain things to people who might be having trouble getting it. He talked about his love for Ultimate Frisbee, in fact he talked about his love for a lot of things, and no matter how much flack he would get for things, he would always grin and have a great attitude. He was one of the few people that I knew that was happy with life, really got enjoyment out of life, and he could enthuse others with his own excitement. He was brave and adventurous and all around an upstanding man, especially at such a young age. He had a profound effect on everyone he met just from his sheer joy. I never got to meet him personally (but I did talk to him on the phone and it was awesome) and everybody who ever met him talked about how just incredibly and supremely awesome he was. I don't think I could use the word awesome enough when it comes to him. I could say a lot more about him, but I want to leave room for other people to say things, and trust me, lots of people will. He will never be forgotten. Ever. Here's to you, Leppy!

Cathy Miller

Leppy, Thank you for your humor. You will be missed.

I hope the Campbell family takes comfort in their memories of Will.

Sincerely, Cathy (csme) Miller

Ann Levin

I only met you once but it made a lasting impression on me – I saw a caring, intelligent, handsome and respectful man in front of me who I knew would always do the right thing and say what he meant and meant what he said. May you rest in peace and may your family find solace in the fact that their son was so loved and cherished by all that he met. ~ Sarena’s mother

Tasha Nalywajko

Will was always funny to me.  He'd have the perfect zinger in any situation (and I found myself on the end of them often).  In the 11+ years that I knew him, I can't even remember a time when he had an angry or sad face - he had some sort of smile: goofy, smug, or genuine - mostly genuine, though.

Preeti Chhibber

Jason Carpentier

This hasn't been easy at all, Will. Everyone who cares about you is held together by the hilarious memories you have provided.