Margaret Marie Campisi

Longtime Anchorage and Girdwood, Alaska, resident Margaret M. Campisi passed away on Aug. 12, 2022, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Born in Chicago, Ill., Margaret moved to Alaska in the summer of 1971 with her friend, Mary Elaine. They made the trip up the Alcan Highway in a VW bus they converted themselves into a camper. Margaret taught at Mount Spurr Elementary School before moving to Girdwood, where she lived and taught for 16 years. She then transferred to Scenic Park Elementary School, where she finished out 30 years of teaching with the Anchorage School District. Margaret was devoted to whatever service task was at hand: teacher, librarian, election worker, theater house manager and usher, Nordstrom employee and even a maid at Alyeska Hotel. Margaret was a curious and avid traveler who spent time in Europe, Canada, Mexico, and most of the U.S. She was especially fond of her winter getaways to the island of Oahu. Margaret loved cats - especially Siamese - walking, wine tasting, book reading and musical theater. She cared for many plants and flowers except dandelions, which she constantly plucked from her yard and also her neighbors'. After her cancer diagnosis, Margaret and caretaker Rodney were humbled by and grateful for the incredible support from family, friends and neighbors. Longtime Chicago friends, Mary Elaine and Chris, generously shared their Seattle home during many medical trips to Seattle. Preceded in death were Margaret's parents, Rose and George Campisi. Loved by family and friends, Margaret leaves behind her longtime partner of 37 years, Rodney; brother, Anthony (Gerry); sister, Maria (Jerry); sister, Debby (Jim); nieces, Allisha (Cindy), Elaina (Mike); nephew, Vince (Amy); grandniece, Mieka; grandnephews, Vince Jr., Jack, Dean and Eamon. A celebration of life will be held at The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in the Sydney Laurence Theater on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022, starting at 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in Margaret's name be made to the Alaska Center for the Performing Arts, the Anchorage Animal Shelter and/or the local ASPCA.