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Campbell remembers art teacher who passed away
By Megan WILKINSON
CAMPBELL
Russell Bailey, the art teacher for Campbell Memorial High School, died suddenly Sunday morning of natural causes at his Austintown home. He died due to heart complications at age 45.
Matt Bowen, superintendent of Campbell schools, said many were surprised as well as saddened by Bailey’s death.
“He was a mentor and friend to many students,” said Bowen.
Bowen said grief counselors were at the schools Monday to support anyone mourning.
Many former students of Bailey’s were sad to hear the news of Bailey’s death.
“I was pretty heartbroken,” said Margo Martinez, a former student of Bailey’s and a Campbell resident. “I remember having him as my art teacher from ninth through 12th grades, and he would always let me and my friends sit with him during lunch. He’d always put a smile on my face — he made me laugh.”
Geri Romito, another former student of Bailey’s, said she liked that Bailey would push her to achieve in class, even though she was not very artistic.
“He made art class fun and enjoyable,” she said. “He made sure we enjoyed what we were doing in class. It also was easy to develop a close friendship with Mr. Bailey. He was an inspiration to many students, always knowing how to make us laugh.”
Gene Skelley, captain at Campbell Fire Department, recalled a time when Bailey made a 3-foot-tall “Frosty the Snowman” out of a shingle slate for his daughter, Megan Skelley, in 2003 as a Christmas present because she liked snowmen.
“Those shingles are pretty expensive,” Skelley said. “We had that piece of art sitting in our house for a long time.”
Skelley said his daughter took the piece to her home in Pittsburgh since she moved there, but he said that if he ever sees it, he’s going to look at the piece of art differently since Bailey died.
Community members outside the school also said they would remember Bailey.
Nick Hrelec, Campbell fire chief, said Bailey agreed to put logos on two of the Campbell firetrucks for him in 2008 and 2011.
“He put a fireman’s cross on the one truck with a ladder and a Red Devil with a fireman’s hat on another,” Hrelec said. “We’ve got nothing but compliments on the art.”