MARILYN CAMACHO, 61
08/20/2008
Friday, August 22, 2008
Staten Island Advance
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Marilyn Camacho, 61, of Westerleigh, a former manager of the West Shore Inn, died Wednesday in Richmond University Medical Center of complications of Lou Gehrig's disease.

Born Marilyn Andersen in Port Richmond, she settled in Westerleigh in 1971.

A graduate of Port Richmond High School, Mrs. Camacho worked at the West Shore Inn in Travis for 25 years, starting as a bookkeeper and a waitress and ending as manager. She retired in 2003.

Mrs. Camacho was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), better known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2003. Despite being in a wheelchair, she never let it dampen her spirits, remained active and was frequently seen wheeling around the neighborhood visiting friends, her family said.

She was involved in many fundraisers benefiting the Muscular Dystrophy Association and appeared several times on the televised "Jerry's Kids" telethon.

An avid sports fan, Mrs. Camacho was a season ticket holder for the Jets and the Staten Island Yankees for several seasons, and was a fan of the big-league Yankees and hockey's Rangers. When her children were growing up, she never missed one of their sports games.

In her leisure time, Mrs. Camacho enjoyed traveling, especially to Fort Myers Beach in Florida.

"She just never gave up," said her husband, Anthony. "She was the most incredible person. She was committed to her life and to her children. Her disease never ever stopped her from going on.

Besides her husband, of 15 years, Mrs. Camacho is survived by a son, John Schwall; two daughters, Karen Mangam and Kristen Schwall-Sullivan, and a sister, Karen Brogna.

The funeral service will be tomorrow at 10 a.m. in the Casey Funeral Home, Castleton Corners. Burial will follow in Ocean View Cemetery, Oakwood.