Friends, family and colleagues are mourning the death of Debbie E. Campagnola, 49, a real estate industry leader in Colorado and beyond, who passed away Jan. 1 after an illness.
Campagnola was well known to Colorado Realtors, having worked on their behalf for 15 years with the Colorado Association of Realtors. She served in several capacities with CAR, including government affairs director, rising to CEO in her final six years with the association.
The Albuquerque, N.M., native was then named director of the Colorado Division of Real Estate in 2003, supervising a staff of 38 and serving as the state’s top real estate regulator for three years.
During her tenure, Campagnola oversaw the implementation of a new law requiring that brokers be fingerprinted.
"We are swamped," Campagnola told Inman News in January 2006, after most of the state’s brokers missed the deadline. "There are days I’ve been doing data entry."
In August 2006, Campagnola became the CEO of the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO), an international association of real estate regulators.
Her work with ARELLO took her to many places around the world, including Dubai, the United Arab Emirates and South Africa, and she "made friends everywhere she went," according to an obituary published by Daniels Family Funeral Services in Albuquerque, where she will be buried.
Campagnola was named by Inman News as one of the "100 Most Influential Real Estate Leaders" in the U.S., and as one of the "Top 100 Most Influential Women in Real Estate Leadership" by the real estate TRENDS Report.
"Debbie was passionate in her loyalty to ARELLO, its members and its public protection mission," the association said in a statement. "Her continuously upbeat outlook, intellect, depth of knowledge, consummate professionalism and warm personality will be sorely missed by all."
Campagnola’s predecessor at ARELLO, Craig Cheatham — currently the president and CEO of The Realty Alliance — said she "dedicated her career to serving the real estate community and consumers."
"She leaves behind many friends — in Colorado, the United States and around the globe — who are grateful for her hard work over the years," Cheatham said.
Campagnola was born June 17, 1961, in Albuquerque. She died in Wheat Ridge, Colo.
Before moving to Colorado 24 years ago, Campagnola was the marketing director of Sunsoft, and before that was the first woman sales representative for a Caterpillar tractor and heavy equipment dealership in Albuquerque, covering New Mexico and West Texas.
She is survived by her boyfriend Rich Fair of Denver, Colo.; parents Carolyn and Kenney Hall, and Bob and Donna Warrick of Albuquerque; sister Barbara Harris of Rio Rancho, N.M.; brothers Rob Warrick of Albuquerque and Johnny Buffalow of Los Lunas, N.M.; and sons Ryan and Michael Campagnola of Littleton, Colo.
Visitation is scheduled for 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, at Daniels Family Funeral Services, Wyoming Chapel, 7601 Wyoming Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, N.M. Funeral services are to be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 8, at Daniels Family Funeral Services, Wyoming Chapel, with burial to follow at Sandia Memory Gardens.
The Colorado Association of Realtors will host a memorial service for Campagnola from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. Friday, Jan. 14, at the South Metro Denver Realtors Association offices, at 7899 South Lincoln Ct., Littleton.
