Philipp Kampf

Philipp Kampf was born on May 2, 1935, in Mramorak, Yugoslavia. His parents were Margaretha and Solomon Kampf. He and his family experienced many challenges post WWII when he was a young boy, which included fleeing to Graz, Austria with his Mother and Sister from confinement in a concentration camp while his father remained a prisoner of war. Philipp was also put into foster care in when his Mother was hospitalized in Austria for more than a year.
Ultimately, his entire family reunited after years of separation and immigrated to Toronto, Canada, where his Sister and soon to be future Sister-in-law, (who lived in Ohio), successfully played matchmaker. He married his sweetheart Joann Reiter on June 22, 1957, became a US Citizen and moved to Mansfield, Ohio.
A few years later they moved with two small children to New York City. They moved to Washington Heights where Philipp, became a Superintendent for the apartment building and lived there also. He worked during the day as a Bricklayer and was an Auxiliary Police Officer on the weekends.
Several years later they purchased a house on Long Island. Philipp commuted to NYC for many years. The latter part of his career was spent working at the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Philipp’s hobbies were boating, fishing, camping on the beach, and in his retirement years, traveling to Florida for the winter with their fifth wheel and taking walks in the neighborhood, chatting with neighbors.
In August of 2021, Philipp’s wife, who was suffering from Dementia, had a stroke and was admitted into a nursing home, where she was confined to a wheelchair. He was desperate to bring her home, major renovations were done to the house and Joann came home in January of 2022. In home assistance was provided during the day, but Philipp became Joann’s primary caregiver beyond this time and overnight. Philipp, this tough union bricklayer, who was 87 years old at the time, provided the most amazing and loving care to his wife until she passed away in March of 2023.
Philipp is survived by 4 children, 12 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren and his loving sister Hanni Wenzl. He will be missed but we are grateful that he now is at peace and reunited with his sweetheart.