Former high school hockey player Tony Campisi has died after a nearly lifelong battle with cancer. He was 23.
Campisi, who was diagnosed with a spinal cord tumor when he was 4, died on July 31. He played hockey at Cumberland Valley High School in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, despite having to regain the ability to walk after having life-saving surgery as a child.
“He was a warrior: he had a lot of stuff to battle with, but he never complained,” his father, Kevin Campisi, told PennLive in a story published on Monday, August 10. “He never saw us shed a tear. We did, but he didn’t see. We had to be positive and strong for him. And that’s why he was the way he was.”
Tony was cancer-free for about a year following surgery, but his tumor eventually began growing again. From 2009 to 2013, he underwent weekly chemotherapy treatments that sometimes lasted up to nine hours.
Despite the grueling circumstances, Tony continued playing hockey through his treatments.
“When he got tired, his left leg would drag a little, but he never quit,” Kevin recalled. “He loved the game and he always worked hard and played through it.”
Tony’s cancer returned in May, described by his mother, Donna, as being increasingly “aggressive.”
Doctors struggled to match Tony with an effective treatment plan because his cancer began mutating multiple times. A separate tumor was eventually found in another part of his brain, which grew quickly.
“It’s hard to see your kid go through that, but he handled every obstacle with grace,” Donna told PennLive.
Tony was surrounded by family, friends and members of the Mechanicsburg hockey community at the hospital before his death.
“A true fighter in every sense of the word, who never once complained about his circumstances,” the Cumberland Valley Ice Hockey Club posted via Facebook. “Tony played and faced adversity with the heart of a lion, bringing grit, passion, and joy to every shift, and every game. His courage, positive spirit, and love for the game inspired everyone around him, both on and off the ice.”
The post continued, “Our thoughts are with Tony’s amazing family during this incredibly difficult time. They are an awesome family, who have shown us all what strength and love truly look like. We will continue to support and love them, as they have supported all of us over the years.”
Tony’s obituary also preached about his tenacity, saying, “Tony never let cancer define him. He faced every challenge, physically and mental alike – with the heart of a true warrior, and he fought with everything he had, all the way to the end.”
