John J. Cambardella Jr.

John J. Cambardella of Church Hill, MD, passed away peacefully at his home, surrounded by family, on February 12, 2023. He was 75 years old. John was born in Scranton, PA, on March 30, 1947, the son of the late John Joseph, Sr. and Maria Rossi Cambardella. At the age of six, he moved from Old Forge, PA, to Salisbury, MD, where he attended grammar and high school, graduating from WiHi with the Class of 1965. He then went to Washington College and met his wife, Pam, in Chestertown, and the two were married in 1972. John worked for many years for Juvenile Services in Kent County. He took early retirement from the state and then became a victim witness coordinator for the county sheriff’s office before starting a family services program for Caroline, Talbot, and Kent County courts. After a few years, he worked exclusively in Caroline County before retiring in 2017. He lived his life as an advocate for others, especially for children and families, and received the Anne B. Gallagher Outstanding Service Award from the Circuit Courts of Caroline and Talbot Counties in 2016. John was a lover of words and enjoyed reading and writing. He was an avid hockey fan, and took advantage of every opportunity to convert others to the love of the sport. His closest friends were a special clan with whom he spent countless hours playing ping-pong and croquet, and made devoted trips to baseball parks around the country. John’s most treasured memories are of spending time in parks and nature with his wife and family. He also (seriously) loved to chop and stack wood, and was an occasional caretaker of cats. He was preceded in death by his sister, Nance Crockett (David). He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Pam Cambardella; his children, Paul Cambardella and Claire Cambardella (Chris Attenborough); many beloved cousins; and six nieces and nephews and their families. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, February 23 at 1 p.m. at Church Hill Cemetery in Church Hill, MD. A celebration of John’s life, accompanied by croquet and merriment, will be held in the spring, on a date to be announced. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Southern Poverty Law Center at www.splcenter.org/support-us (400 Washington Ave. Montgomery, AL 36104) or to The Nature Conservancy at https://tinyurl.com/2228vhet (TNC Attn: Treasury 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Suite 100 Arlington, VA 22203).

John J. Cambardella Jr.

March 30, 1947 - February 12, 2023