Zoo Leader Sheldon Campbell Dies at 66

Sheldon Campbell, president of the San Diego Zoological Society since 1983, architect of an animal exchange program with China and an accomplished author of wildlife books and articles, is dead.

He was 66 when he died Monday, apparently of a heart attack, while attending a finance meeting of the society here.

Campbell’s interest in the world-renowned San Diego Zoo began when, as a teen-ager, he became fascinated with reptiles, and especially snakes, said longtime friend and Zoological Society trustee Bob Ward. Unable to afford tickets, Campbell and boyhood friend Charles Shaw would climb the zoo’s fence to get a better glimpse of their favorite creatures, Ward said.

Friends of Curator

Campbell and Shaw eventually became acquainted with C. A. Perkins, then curator of reptiles, who later made the boys apprentices, giving them the chance to work with the reptile collection.

“He was a native San Diegan who grew up with the zoo,” Ward said of Campbell, who first became involved with the society as a trustee in 1968.

In 1974, Campbell and Shaw wrote “Snakes of the American West.” Shaw died soon after the book was published, and Campbell went on to author two more books, including the national best-seller, “Lifeboats to Ararat,” which discussed the modern role of zoos as breeding centers for endangered animals.

Graduated With Honors

Campbell, who was born in San Diego and lived most of his life in the city, was an honors graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in English. He did graduate work in literature at Stanford University.

In the late 1930s, Campbell worked briefly as a reporter covering the zoo for the old San Diego Sun, Ward said, and he spent 20 years as a stockbroker before retiring.

In 1979 Campbell played an important part in organizing a 10-year cultural exchange program between the San Diego Zoo and the China Wildlife Conservation Assn. that has resulted in the exchange of 70 animals in the last six years.

Campbell is survived by his wife, Florence; a son, Gregory Campbell, and a daughter, Kim Molina. They ask that donations be sent to a memorial fund being established at the zoo in his name.

Services have not been announced, but a memorial service at the zoo is planned.