Mentor to countless pharmacy and URI professionals, Campbell was 89

University of Rhode Island College of Pharmacy professor emeritus, former faculty member and associate dean, alumnus, and mentor, Norman A. Campbell, 89, of Narragansett, passed away peacefully on Sept. 11, 2025 in Warwick, R.I.

A pioneer in the pharmacy profession, Campbell was a role model for generations of pharmacy graduates. He taught several law and ethics classes, counseled student leaders, published extensively on health care, and served as a mentor to countless pharmaceutical professionals, not just those who graduated from URI. Recognized nationally for his many professional accomplishments, Campbell was also known for his unwavering ethics and commitment to trust and honor in the profession, inspiring the college’s annual Norman A. Campbell Award for Ethics & Excellence in Healthcare.

“Above all, Dr. Campbell instilled in pharmacists the timeless lesson that ‘right is right’ and that ethics and honor are the cornerstones of our profession,” said URI pharmacy Dean Kerry LaPlante. “I will personally remember Norm for his unwavering advocacy for those with less, always putting others before himself and raising up everyone around him. Dr. Campbell’s presence, wisdom, and humanity enriched our college immeasurably. As we grieve this loss, we also celebrate a legacy that will continue to inspire us and future generations of pharmacists.”

Campbell graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmacy from the Rhode Island College of Pharmacy (precursor to the URI College of Pharmacy) in 1957. He earned an MBA in Marketing from the University of Wisconsin in 1961, a law degree from the New England School of Law in 1968, and a Ph.D. in pharmacy administration from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1972.

He was a professor of pharmacy administration at URI for more than 30 years, in addition to serving as associate dean, department chair and advisor to many student organizations. He was inducted into the URI College of Pharmacy Hall of Fame in 2019, honored among the inaugural inductees.

Son of the late Norman H. and Victoria (Moussally) Campbell, he is survived by his wife Mary (Hodde) of 68 years; three children, Debra Rugg and her husband John, Linda Carver and her husband Robert, and Michael Campbell and his wife Joyce; nine grandchildren, Kristin and her husband Nick, Alison, Samantha, Catherine, Kayla, Diana, Kyrie, Leia and Cristian; two great grandchildren, Sage and Wren; sister Barbara (Spencer) and her husband Herrick; and nephew and niece, Brian and Megan, and their families.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, September 19th at 10am in Saint Thomas More Church, 53 Rockland St. Narragansett, RI 02882. Visitation will be held on Thursday, September 18th from 4pm-7pm in Avery-Storti Funeral Home, 88 Columbia St. Wakefield, RI 02879.

In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate a donation be made to the Norman A. & Mary Campbell Scholarship Fund through the URI Foundation.