Although Ed Campbell was a graduate of Nutley High School and a standout athlete there, he’s been a fixture involved with North Arlington High School athletics for almost four decades.
“It’s been a labor of love,” Ed Campbell said. “I just enjoyed being around the kids. I’m glad my kids got involved in sports.”
Ed Campbell is the father of three excellent North Arlington athletes.
His son, Eddie, was a standout quarterback in football and forward in basketball when he graduated in 1997. He went on to play football at the University of Massachusetts.
One daughter, Michelle Campbell Kinnas (Class of 1994), went on to play volleyball at William Paterson after injuries plagued her playing days at North Arlington.
Another daughter, Nicole Campbell Russo (Class of 1993), went on to play at Caldwell College and later became the principal of the North Arlington Middle School.
Eddie and Nicole became members of the North Arlington Athletic Hall of Fame.
“I was so blessed to get to know people like Rip Collins (for whom the field on River Road is named after),” the elder Campbell said. “I was able to serve on the Board of Education with Rip.”
Ed Campbell served the town of North Arlington and the Board of Education in every way imaginable. He was the President and the Vice-President of the Board of Ed from 1983 through 1989. He was also the president of the Junior Vikings football program, was an officer, coach and contributor for the North Arlington Recreation girls’ basketball program, served with the Little League and Biddy basketball.
Campbell also volunteered his time with the North Arlington High School Booster Club and the North Arlington High School Athletic Hall of Fame committee. He also co-chaired the “Friends of North Arlington,” a group that was very instrumental in getting the last school building referendum passed.
“The people are what make North Arlington special,” said Campbell, who moved to Ocean Township a few years ago after calling North Arlington home for 38 years.
The Athletic Hall of Fame that Campbell served with for so many years have decided to induct Campbell as an honorary member when the newest members of the Hall of Fame are honored at the San Carlo Restaurant in Lyndhurst May 5.
Campbell was also known as the “voice of Viking football” by doing the public address announcing at Viking games. Campbell also did the announcing for Comcast Cable of the Meadowlands covering local high school sports in southern Bergen County.
Campbell said that he didn’t expect to receive word of induction.
“Nicole was the one who gave me the news,” Campbell said. “I thought that was pretty classy. I was shocked. It wasn’t something I expected. It’s going to be fun going in with this group. It’s going to feel great and it’s going to be a great night for our family.”
Campbell said that he managed to look over all the biographies of this year’s inductees.
“I’ve done my diligence,” Campbell said. “I’m impressed with the names. I think we’re all sharing in the wealth. It’s such a small school, but with a rich tradition of producing talent.”
And now three members will come from the same Campbell family.
Nancy Danca (Class of 1969) is one of the eldest honorees. She was totally clueless when it came to her credentials for the North Arlington Hall of Fame.
“I didn’t even know they had a Hall of Fame,” said Danca, who played high school basketball and township recreation softball during her days. “I don’t keep in touch with people from North Arlington. I only talk to a few people out of state. Who knew?”
Former baseball coach Dan DiGuglielmo was the one who nominated Danca, who was able to play competitive softball into her 40s.
“It will be strange,” Danca said. “I hope I can recognize people. But it is a great honor to be in the same class with these great athletes.”
Don Albanese (Class of 1972) said he was hopeful he gained induction after he heard he was nominated.
“I’ve been a Viking for life,” Albanese said.
He’s especially proud _ considering his nephew Paul Savage is the new Viking head football coach.
“It’s really a thrill,” Albanese said. “I’m kind of speechless.”
Albanese now resides in Bayville after retiring as a police officer in Wallington in 2002.
“I have a lot to look forward to,” Albanese said.
He also takes pride in playing for the North Arlington Little League All-Star team that won the District 5 championship in 1965, the only NA team to win the District title.
“I was just thinking about the teams I played for and the guys I played with,” Albanese said.
Tara Fisher is only 25 years old and not that far removed from being The Observer Female Athlete of the Year, an honor she received in 2010.
Now, Fisher serves as the head track and field coach and she’s a seventh grade social studies teacher in the Middle School that Campbell Russo oversees.
“It’s kind of crazy,” Fisher said. “Time certainly flies. I didn’t think it was my time yet.”
Fisher enters the same Hall of Fame that her grandfather and two uncles are already members, so it’s all in the family there.
“It’s just such an honor,” said Fisher, who was a standout in volleyball, basketball and track and field. “I see the plaque in the school and all the names that are on it, all the 1,000-point scorers in basketball. It’s incredible. It’s always something I wanted, but I never thought it would be me this year. When I got the call, it was a surreal moment. I always hoped to be a part of it and now I’m honored to be a part of it.
Added Fisher, “I really can’t wait. I hope to see everyone who I haven’t seen in a while. I hope I don’t have a track meet.”
The 1964 boys’ basketball team will be honored in entirety. That team won the state sectional title, the only one in school history, and went all the way to the Group II state title game before falling in the title game to Ocean City.
Larry Venancio was the captain of that team and remembers it fondly.
“I always felt we were the best team North Arlington ever had,” Venancio said. “We were always a close knit group and this will be like a family affair.”
Many of the players on that team are members of the Hall of Fame, but two, Len Gino and Tom Niemas, have passed away.
Others to be honored that night include Russ Lyon (Class of 1966), Jeff DiConstanzo (Class of 1993), Patrick Moore (Class of 2000), Christine Ferro Saxon (Class of 2002), Taylor Dickson (Class of 2009), Bruno Janota (Class of 2010), Peter Santos (Class of 2010 and former Observer Male Athlete of the Year), Matthew Priore (Class of 2010 and former Observer Athlete of the Week), and Audrey Davey (honorary).
Tickets for the Hall of Fame May 5 at the San Carlo in Lyndhurst at 6 p.m. are still available and can be secured by contacting Carol Dorazio at (201) 423-3656 or at c.dorazio@yahoo.com. Tickets will not be available at the door, so you are encouraged to contact Dorazio as soon as possible.
CAPTION
Ed Campbell holds newspaper clippings that honor his son Eddie and daughter Nicole, both members of the North Arlington Athletic Hall of Fame. Campbell will join his children as an honorary member of the NAHS Athletic Hall of Fame May 5 at the San Carlo in Lyndhurst at 6 p.m. Photo courtesy of Ed Campbell.
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Jim Hague | Observer Sports Writer
Sports Writer Jim Hague was with The Observer for 20+ years — and his name is one of the most recognizable in all of sports journalism. The St. Peter’s Prep and Marquette alum kicked off his journalism career post Marquette at the Daily Record, where he remained until 1985. Following shorts stints at two other newspapers, in September 1986, he joined the now-closed Hudson Dispatch, where he remained until 1991, when its doors were finally shut.
It was during his tenure at The Dispatch that Hague’s name and reputation as one of country’s hardest-working sports reporters grew. He won several New Jersey Press Association and North Jersey Press Club Awards in that timeframe.
In 1991, he became a columnist for The Hudson Reporter chain of newspapers — and he remains with them to this day.
In addition to his work at The Observer and The Hudson Reporter, Hague is also an Associated Press stringer, where he covers Seton Hall University men’s basketball, New York Red Bulls soccer and occasionally, New Jersey Devils hockey.
He’s also doing work at The Morristown Daily Record, the very newspaper where his journalism career began.
During his career, he also worked for Dorf Feature Services, which provided material for the Star-Ledger. While there, he covered the New York Knicks and the New Jersey Nets.
Hague is also known for his announcing work — and he’s done PA work for Rutgers Newark and NJIT.
Hague is the author of the book “Braddock: The Rise of the Cinderella Man.”