On March 10 of this yr, there was a funeral mass for the late Russell Joseph Camarda, higher generally known as “RJ” by his mates, familyand friends. In his house, along with his household by his aspect, RJ Camarda handed away on Friday, March 5, 2021 at the age of 93.
Camarda was born on June 1, 1927 in New York, the place he and his household would endure the Nice Despair. By the point he was 18 years previous in 1945 and was capable of be drafted by the navy, RJ was despatched to the Philippines, Iwo Jima and Guam a part of the 30th Climate Squadron within the Military Air Corps in direction of the tip of World Conflict II.
When the battle ended, Camarda determined to go to Florida State College the place he would research and get his diploma in political science. After graduating in 1950, he moved again to New York Metropolis the place he would work on Wall Road and begin his household. In 1957, Camarda had his first son Jeffery and in 1970, his second son Clifford.
After engaged on Wall Road for a couple of years, Camarda started his lifelong profession as an educator at North Babylon Excessive School in Lengthy Island the place he was the bowling coach and would ultimately change into assistant principal. Throughout his time at North Babylon, he employed and started courting his future spouse of 46 years. With this marriage got here his third son Michael in 1985.
In 1983, RJ moved again to Tallahassee due to his want for 60-degree winters versus the bone-chilling winters of New York — and Florida State Soccer. With climate expertise from the navy, Camarda joined the Florida Division of Emergency Administration (FDEM) from 1983 to 1993 the place he helped discovered the Governor’s Hurricane Convention which is the most important convention on hurricane preparedness, response and restoration in the US.
After being gone for a number of months in 1992 organizing Miami’s restoration from Hurricane Andrew, Camarda retired from the FDEM at the age of 65. A yr later he would return to the profession that he left behind in New York and change into a historical past trainer at Maclay School the place he would educate for 23 years beside his spouse who additionally labored there.
Maclay put out a press release on Fb mourning the loss stating:
“We’re really saddened to listen to of the passing of long-time historical past trainer Russ Camarda. Mr. Camarda was one in all a form. Whether or not performing out a narrative as a Roman warrior, instructing in his ‘Italian’ accent, or chatting with college students within the pod, he made historical past enjoyable and memorable. Thanks for making an influence on the lives of your college students, Mr. Camarda. You may be missed.”
