Medford Native Honors Krystle Campbell with Portrait

Krystle Campbell’s parents, Patricia and William Campbell Jr., with the portrait and trustee Dick Campbell (no relation).

Seven months after the Boston Marathon bombings took Krystle Campbell’s life, UMass Boston Chancellor J. Keith Motley and the Campbell family unveiled a portrait of the young bombing victim at a ceremony Thursday in the Campus Center Atrium.

The portrait was commissioned by Board of Trustees member Dick Campbell. Though he is not related to Krystle’s family, when Dick Campbell discovered that Krystle was, like him, a Medford native and a former UMass Boston student, he decided he had to do something to honor her memory.

Dick Campbell contacted William Campbell Jr., Krystle’s father, and told him that he’d like to commission a portrait of Krystle. Together, the two Campbell families worked with UK-based painter Cameron Bennett to select the right photos of Krystle to use as the basis for the portrait. William Campbell had tears in his eyes as he discussed the painter’s patient efforts to capture his daughter on canvas.

“It’s just beautiful,” he said of the completed painting. William Campbell also said he was touched by the outpouring of support from the UMass Boston community. “There really are good people in the world,” he said of those who have come forward to honor Krystle’s memory.

At the unveiling of the portrait, Chancellor Motley described Krystle Campbell’s upbeat personality and her devotion to her friends. With this painting, he said, “Krystle Campbell’s cheerful spirit will continue to brighten life at UMass Boston.”

Jesse Wright, former student body president, found the portrait of a smiling Campbell to be a perfect tribute. “How fitting,” he said, “that it is Krystle’s smile that will be left behind.”

– Information and photo from UMass Boston