Emanuel - Manny Campisi
Retired Principal
Manny was born in Bushwick Brooklyn on February 29th 1936 and celebrated his 80th birthday this year. Manny and his beautiful wife Janet have been together for 65 years and married for 60 wonderful years. They have four fantastic daughters and five terrific grandsons. After graduating from Bushwick High School in 1953, Manny attended Brooklyn College before serving two years in the United States Army and was discharged in October of 1956. Manny and Janet were married seven days later and celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary on November 3rd.
Mr. Campisi earned his degree at Brooklyn College and began his teaching career at Babylon Junior-Senior High School. In September of 1960, Helmer Petersen, District Principal of West Babylon Schools, hired Manny to teach in the Junior High School. At that time, the construction of the Senior High School building was not yet completed and there were four elementary schools. West Babylon had become the home of the largest populated junior high school in all of Suffolk County — so large that it was difficult to maneuver from one location to another. Larry Tooker and Dr. Anthony Capone were the principals at that time. In 1968, Mr. Campisi became assistant principal of the Junior High School joining Salvatore Mangone, the principal and Murray Friedland. As a result of the recognition of his leadership qualities, Mr. Campisi was promoted to Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. His service was so valued that he served under four different Superintendents: Martin Kennedy, Dorothy Pierce, Edward DeIulio and Phillip Ames.
Next Mr. Campisi was appointed principal of John F. Kennedy Elementary School where for 13 years he dedicated his passion for education to students and families of the JFK community. Mr. Campisi stated “The 13 years I spent at JFK Elementary School were the most memorable and rewarding of my career.” In July of 1996, after 36 years in the West Babylon School District, Mr. Campisi retired. Upon his retirement, and to this day, he maintains “It was indeed my pleasure to have been given the opportunity to serve the community of West Babylon and to close out my career with such a wonderful staff and children who were the light of our lives … thank you”.