Knights of Columbus San Rafael Parish Council 9710: January 2010

A KNIGHT'S CRUSADE #2

Meet Larry Campitiello - current council officer - 3^rd Year Trustee

My career with the Knights of Columbus started in 1962. My Father and Uncle were both members and I was coerced into joining. They both had a great time teasing me as I went to each degree. Back in the early sixties the degree's were a lot different than today. Needless to say that's for another time. In 1964 my dad, uncle and I made our Fourth Degree together in New York City. The class had over six hundred candidates.

While working and raising a family in my younger days I was not very active. Bowling with the CYO and playing on the company softball team took up a lot of my time. In 1965 Mary and I had the opportunity to move to California. I could return to school nights and continue working in the day time. By then we had two boys and lots of energy.

We settled in Whittier California. While registering my oldest son for school at St Mary's, I met a man in the office named Peter McGoldrich. He recognized my Knights of Columbus ring and immediately recruited me to transfer to Whittier Council and I also transferred to Fr Penna Assembly.

I faithfully paid my dues to the Council and Assembly but with work, school and family there was not much time left to be an active Knight. In fact I did not become active until 1993 when we moved to San Diego. By then we had three boys, all were out of the house and we were alone. Mary decided that we needed to contact the Knights of Columbus Insurance agent to check on our coverage. So we were put in touch with Brother Sam Watson. Sam came to visit and we discussed transferring to Valley of the Angels council but I told Sam I had no time. That's when the phone calls started. Some guy by the name of Frank Still called about six times. He invited me to come to a council meeting, and with Mary's coxing I decided to go and see what was going on.

The night I walked into Room 4 there were only about 10 members in attendance. Frank was presiding and asked if I would take down the minutes. (That was my first mistake.:))

A few months later Dick Mears was elected to the office of Grand Knight and I became his Deputy. After Dick completed his year I was elected and served two terms as Grand Knight (1995-1997). I was doing all the things expected of a Grand Knight, going to degrees and Chapter meetings. I began to realize what the Knights of Columbus is really all about. Frank Still got me to transfer to Bishop Buddy Assembly in San Diego.

I told Mary that my dad was a Faithful Navigator at my old Assembly and I would like to follow in his foot steps, she agreed and said if that's what you want go ahead. I served in all the chairs at Bishop Buddy and became Faithful Navigator in (1998 – 1999). While at Bishop Buddy I got a phone call from Tony Miller who had two swords he wanted to donate. The swords belonged to his father and he wanted to see them put to good use by some Sir Knight. I asked him why he did not keep them and get himself active but he explained he started work with some lady who was starting the Garden of Innocence to bury abandoned babies. As he explained the reason for the Garden, I started to formulate a plan to get the knights involved. I thought it would be an honor to help escort the babies to the grave sites. I asked if it would be alright if we did that and Tony agreed.

As Navigator, I told the Assembly we would be attending a funeral on June 19^th, we were going as an honor guard to bury a baby boy named Adam. We were seven Sir Knights in full regalia. That was just the beginning. The Fourth Degree Knights have been at every burial in the Garden and the numbers have grown. In November of 2001, I had the honor of naming a baby boy, we called him Christopher. When we buried the 100^th baby I again had the honor of naming the baby and we called her Ann Marie. We had 84 Sir Knights in Color and at least 20 in tuxes at her burial. On January 9^th 2010 we buried Howard, the One hundred and eleventh baby. Now when I go to the Garden on a call out I see many Knights I don't recognize. It's been a wonderful experience for me personally.

In the spring of 1997, while attending a Chapter testimonial dinner honoring Harley "Lee" Harris, I was asked if I would consider becoming a District Deputy, I agreed and served as a DD (1997- 2001) As a District Deputy I received 4 consecutive awards from the MR Foundation for my district. I also started St James the Greater Council in Solana Beach and received a Star District award.

In the year 2000, Jack O'Rourke, Sal Acampora, Vince Giracello and I approached Master John Beckman to start the Joseph T. O'Callahan Assembly. He allowed us to split from Bishop Buddy Assembly. I was the Charter Admiral, and went on to become the third Faithful Navigator (2002-2003)

When I completed my term as District Deputy, I decided to go through the chairs at the San Diego Diocese Chapter and became the Chapter President (2003-2004) As Chapter President I received awards for raising $17,265.00 for the Columbian Retirement Home, and $71,563.30 for the M.R. Foundation. It was during my term as Chapter President that we had the Scripps Miramar Fires. Supreme Director Joseph Schultz asked if I would distribute $10,000.00 from the Supreme Council to the fire victims in and around San Diego. I turned the money into $50.00 gift cards to be distributed and I spent several weekends in Harbison Canyon, and at St Louise de Marillac Church in Crest giving away money to needy families that came to the church for help. I then expanded my reach to the Indians near the Valley View Casino. Fire burned so hot there it turned black top driveways into dust. The Indians need help with clean up and FEMA erected shelters but the Indians had to hook up their own water and electricity. I got them some help from the local Council, along with the gift cards to ease the pain.

About five years ago I asked Monsignor Dennis if we could do something for the Marines at Camp Pendleton. With his blessing and the help of Neil May, the Council and members of O'Callahan Assembly I started the Semper Fi Fund at San Rafael.

In September 2004, I was asked by the new Master of the Fourth Degree Bernard Gardner if I would become his secretary, I agreed and completed the assignment in 2008. Following Bernard's retirement, I was appointed Master of the Fourth Degree for all of Southern California District. That represents 34 Assemblies and over 7000 Sir Knights in my jurisdiction. My term as Master ends in September 2012.

Along the way I have had many other positions with the State Council and many of the assignments I had were done while holding other positions.

August 2007 Delegate to the 125^th Supreme Convention held in Tennessee.

State Program Director (2008-2009)

Assistant Convention Chairman for San Diego (2008-2009)

State Chairman for membership Statistics (2004-2008)

Chapter Chairman for MR Foundation (2004-on going)

President of the Horseshoe Arrowhead Desert Valley/ San Diego Chapters (2006-2007)

State Chairman Civic Involvement (2004-2006)

State Chairman for Fire Disaster Relief (2003-2004)

State Chairman for New Council Development (2002-2003)

Convention Chairman for Hospitality (2000-2001)

Many of the assignments have a story but I won't bore you with all the details. If you ask, what was the most rewarding thing I have done as a Knight; it would be meeting wonderful Brother Knights and their Ladies from all over the State of California. The Knights of Columbus are my extended family.

Vivat Jesus

Larry Campitiello

Page Holbrook Watts

Knights of Columbus San Rafael Parish Council 9710

Sunday, January 31, 2010

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