Hart Campbell

Hart Campbell, 44, wasn’t supposed to have been born, but Hart never did much care about rules.

Hart, who died May 25, 2024, after a motorcycle accident, was born after his mom, Judy Campbell, had survived early breast cancer – the family’s “miracle baby.” He grew up alternatively adored and tolerated by his two loving older sisters, Shelley Campbell Leonor and Wendy Campbell, and shadowing his father, Kirk Campbell, to learn how to fix or build anything.

Hart blazed through elementary and high school, charming everyone: Early during his kindergarten year, he confided to his older sister that he had succeeded in his goal of dating every girl in his class. Along the way, Hart picked up skills on multiple instruments, including mandolin, banjo, guitar – and didgeridoo. Any gathering was instantly more lively when Hart arrived.

Never much one for formal education – his active brain worked faster than those of most around him – Hart spent time in college learning massage therapy and veterinary technician skills. He used the training from both, along with his natural animal-whisperer abilities, to connect with dogs when he worked as a technician at Hipdog Canine Hydrotherapy, one of his favorite jobs.

Hart passed his love of animals and music on to his daughter, Lena, 9. His Facebook feed scrolls with pictures of Lena feeding animals and hanging out in the parks and beaches that they favored. Hart’s adult life centered on his daughter, and for a time, he was a stay-at-home dad.

Professionally, starting in 2018, Hart started working with IATSE Local 631 Stagehands. His prior experience in a frame shop gave him the skills to be a great carpenter in the entertainment industry. He was known as a good worker in multiple scenic shops and production warehouses. He worked on numerous Broadway tour builds, concerts, special events, festivals, and exhibitions. He worked at Dr Phillips Performing Arts Center, Orange County Convention Center, Additions Arena, and other prestigious facilities. He eventually worked his way to a full-time union position at PRG, where everyone loved him. Co-workers remember him for his hard work and unfailing encouragement – and for enjoying wacky pre-work rituals like a quick dance. As one co-worker said, “He taught me to see light in the darkness and not to let a mistake define me.”

Hart spent his entire adult life in the Orlando area where he grew friendships with others who were also passionate about music and enjoyed events such as music festivals, house parties, and the "River Church" they formed together at King's Landing on the Wekiva River. This emergent chosen family showed up with their full hearts when Hart had his accident. The love and support they showed is a beautiful testimony to the depth of feeling and generosity of spirit they felt for Hart; this was a great comfort to his family.

His large community of friends shared stories of Hart’s escapades – how he once convinced a friend to join him with a cooler at the beach, where they played in the gigantic waves whipped up by a hurricane; how he decided his truck needed an ornament, so glued a yellow rubber ducky to the front of the hood; how he dressed up as a Disney princess to play with some little kids.

The Campbell family – especially including his daughter, Lena, his parents, Kirk and Judy of Fletcher, N.C.; his sisters Shelley Leonor & husband, Sam, of Riverside, Calif., and Wendy Campbell of San Rafael, Calif.; his former wife and best friend, Julie DeLongy Campbell of Orlando; plus many other relatives and friends – feels like they’re much less interesting for losing Hart.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday, June, 23, 2024, at Fletcher Academy Chapel, 950 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher, N.C. Hart is also being celebrated at many private gatherings by friends in the Orlando area. In his honor, his family and friends invite you to do something random, silly, and kind today.