Better Business Bureau leader dies

Sylvia Campbell cared as much about the people working at the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada as she did about her dogs, which is to say she loved them.

Campbell, president of the business organization for the past 15 years, died Nov. 3 at Sunrise Hospital after three months battling cancer. She was 73.

Campbell, a Las Vegas resident since 1962, was described by friends and co-workers as a strong and compassionate business leader who was also dedicated to her local community.

"My experience with Sylvia has been one of professional satisfaction," BBB accreditation manager Darrellyn Dosser-Bonstell said Tuesday. "She ran the bureau very aptly and had a caring attitude toward employees. She was like a mother hen."

Before taking the job at the Better Business Bureau, Campbell worked as chief of fiscal services for the Nevada Department of Prisons, and before that she was senior securities accountant for the Nevada secretary of state's Securities Division.

She earned a bachelor of science degree in accounting and finance at University of Nevada, Las Vegas and was a contributing member of the UNLV Alumni Association. She was a member of Rotary Club of North Las Vegas and Rotary Club International.

Campbell's son, Rodger, said he knew his mother held an important position and was always busy at work, but she was very humble about it.

"Once in a while, she might talk about problems, but to us she was just mom, cooking Thanksgiving dinner and making peanut butter and oatmeal and chocolate chip cookies," the son said. "She always had to have several pies for the holidays. Her lemon meringue and apple pie was out of this world."

Campbell's presidency was not without its bumps. A 2008 posting on consumer website RipoffReport said that the Better Business Bureau was a scam and that Campbell was "completely rude and impossible to deal with" in resolving consumer complaints.

The Better Business Bureau, founded in 1912, is a nonprofit group that monitors business practices for fairness and honesty. The bureau grades businesses based on consumer experiences.

Campbell and the Better Business Bureau of Southern Nevada were named as defendants in a lawsuit filed in May by Henderson-based Incorp Services that alleged the rating system was easily manipulated and heavily favored BBB-accredited businesses.

Bill Gould of the bureau's board of directors said Campbell was dedicated to the cause and made her staff a priority. "She looked out for them, and they in turn did a good job of helping her get her job done," he said.

Campbell liked dancing, music and gardening. Co-worker and friend Eve Kimball said she would go to Campbell's home to help with gardening.

"She had three dogs, and when Zohie died, she couldn't tell me for two weeks because she knew I loved that dog," Kimball said.

"She was extremely honest, loved her dogs, loved her fruit and vegetable garden, and of course she loved the Rebels," co-worker Robert Sears added.

Campbell was born June 20, 1937, in Farrell, Pa., and was raised in Southern California. She graduated from Huntington Park (Calif.) High School in 1955.

She is survived by sons Rodger of Las Vegas and Mark of Reno; sister, Sandra Porter; and three grandchildren. She was preceded in death by son Bruce.

Services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Nov. 20 at Palm Mortuary, 1325 N. Main St.

The family requests donations be made to Rotary Club of North Las Vegas, Shade Tree Shelter of Las Vegas or American Cancer Society.

Contact reporter Hubble Smith at hsmith@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0491.