Dr. Francis "Rusty" P. Camp

Dr. Francis (“Rusty”) P. Camp, 78, beloved Dentist, Husband, Father, Grandfather, Friend, name all the titles, he held them all strongly, passed away peacefully on October 26, 2023 due to the results of an accidental fall at home. He was the loving and devoted husband of Nora (Francis) Petroski Camp.

Rusty was born in New Britain on December 26, 1944 son to the late Frank and Clara (Morante) Camp. He attended Plainville schools, graduating from Plainville High School in 1963, where he was a star athlete excelling on the basketball court prominently. Rusty attended Providence College prior to Dental School at Temple University in Philadelphia. From there, he proudly joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Monterey, California, serving from 1971 to 1973 and was honorably discharged.

In 1974, Rusty returned to Plainville, where he joined Dr. Andrew Basile’s dental practice and “the rest is history.” Rusty truly loved going to work every day, taking care of his patients while creating everlasting friendships, and working alongside his best friends and associates, Dr. Stephen Lupini and Dr. Ralph Sambor. Rusty was working right up to the day of his tragic accident.

Rusty loved playing golf and spending time with his many, many friends. He was a member of Chippanee Golf Club before joining Farmington Country Club, where he enjoyed the 19th hole nearly as much as holes 1-18. Rusty also enjoyed spending summers in Old Lyme and more recently winters in Florida.

For the last 14 years, among Rusty’s greatest joys, was spending time with his beloved grandson, Joey.

In addition to his wife, Nora, Rusty leaves behind his son, Peter Camp, his grandson, Joey Camp, his sister, Kathryn (Camp) Lickwar (Paul), his special cousins that were as close to him as if they were his sisters, Christine Gawyrs and Kathy Jane Kershaw (David), his stepson, Todd Petroski (Lindsay) and their children, Emily and Timothy Petroski, his mother-in-law, Katherina Krucpzak, his special nieces, Audrey Alt (Daniel) and Cara Cavanaugh, his business partners and best friends, Dr. Ralph Sambor (Camille) and Dr. Stephen Lupini (Heidi), and many, many, many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, along with a very wide circle of friends.

The family would like to thank all of Rusty’s amazing, skilled, and compassionate caregivers at Hartford Hospital, Gaylord Hospital, and Cherry Brook Health Care Center, where he not only received top-notch care, but also developed several new close relationships over the last several months.

Family and friends are welcome to gather to celebrate Rusty’s life on Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 4 to 7 PM at Plainville Funeral Home, 81 Broad St., Plainville. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Thursday, November 2, 2023 at 10 AM at Our Lady of Mercy Church, 94 Broad St., Plainville. Everyone is asked to meet directly at the church. In honor of Rusty’s service to our country in the U.S. Army, full military honors will be accorded following the Mass. Burial will be held privately. For more information or for online expressions of sympathy, please visit www.PlainvilleFuneralHome.com.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Rusty can be made to Autism Families CONNECTicut, PO Box 370162, West Hartford, CT 06137 (www.autismfamiliesct.org) or to any charitable organization that supports Autism Awareness. A scholarship fund to remember Rusty will also be established and more information will be provided. 

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