Richard P. Camp, Jr.
September 5, 1936 – September 15, 2020
Sarasota, Fla.
The Reverend Dr. Richard P. Camp, Jr., longest serving Chaplain at the US Military Academy (1973 – 1996), died at his Sarasota home from complications due to Parkinson’s Disease on September 15. He was 84.
Chaplain Camp was born September 5, 1936 in Fair Lawn, NJ to Richard Camp Sr., also a pastor, and Martha Spruit Camp. The eldest of five, Chaplain Camp became an All-American in football and dominated in track and field. He followed his father to Wheaton College where he was captain of the football team, ran track and wrestled. After completing his graduate degree at Gordon Divinity School in Hamilton, Mass., he pastored churches in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He was Dean of Students at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary before moving on to West Point.
Chaplain Camp pointed thousands of cadets to God, guiding them through some of the most challenging times in their developing lives. He led the Academy through the arrival of the first class of women in 1976, the cheating scandal of 1977, the Iran hostages reunion in 1980, the building of the Jewish Chapel in 1984, and provided the invocation for several Heisman Trophy Award presentations.
Chaplain Camp retired in 1996 and became executive director of A Christian Ministry in the National Parks. A lifelong athlete, he ran in the Masters Track and Field circuit, setting the world record in the 4×200 meter dash at the age of 70.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Virjean; son Brad, and daughters Kristen and Katherine; nine grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, brothers Bill Camp and Ed Camp, and sisters Adrienne Reilly and Virginia Warwick.
A memorial service will be held in the Spring of 2021 at West Point. For more information visit www.chaplaincamp.org. Donations can be made to Chaplain Camp Christian Charities; or West Point Athletic Ministry at www.ChaplainCamp.org/donate or via West Point Association of Graduates at 845-446-1657.