Loving Father, Grandfather & Brother
Dr. R. Craig Kammerer, 80, of Watchung, NJ passed peacefully on July 18, 2024.
Craig was born on October 23, 1943 in Richmond, VA while his father attended Officer Candidate School to prepare for his service with the 999th Field Artillery Battalion attached to General George S. Patton Jr.’s Third Army. When he returned from serving overseas in World War II, Craig’s father and mother moved their young family to Newark, NJ and then to Summit, NJ, before his father’s business transferred him to Evanston, IL. It was here that Craig spent most of his very happy childhood. Upon graduating from Glenbrook High School, Northbrook, IL in 1961, Craig’s father was promoted to the home office and his family, including siblings Steve and Kit, moved back to New Jersey.
Craig started his undergraduate education at Northwestern University in Evanston, IL, but transferred after 2 years to his father’s alma mater, Drew University in Madison, NJ. At Drew, Craig followed his passion for scientific pursuits and graduated with a Major in Chemistry and double Minor in Physics and Mathematics in 1966. He moved to the west coast when he was recommended for the doctoral program as well as a teaching assistantship at the University of California, Los Angeles.
In 1972 he graduated from the UCLA doctoral program with a PhD in Organic Chemistry. He was able to continue his work through multiple postdoctoral programs and research laboratories throughout the University of California System. During his tenure at UCLA he taught Pharmacology and Organic Chemistry in the Medical School, as well as directed multiple research projects in those areas. Dr. Kammerer was appointed as the Associate Director of the official Drug Testing Analytical Laboratory for the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, CA, leading to his establishment and recognition as an international expert on drug use in athletes.
Alongside his extensive work in California, Craig’s biggest wish was to become a father. He was able to realize this in 1978 with the birth of his first son. This dream was further fulfilled with his daughter’s birth in 1982 and his second son in 1984.
In 1987 Craig left academia to join the corporate pharmaceutical industry. He moved from the west coast back to New Jersey, settling in Basking Ridge with his family. During his career in Pharmacology research, he was Toxicology Research Director for Smith Kline Bioscience Labs, Principal Research Scientist for Schering-Plough Inc., Senior Research Scientist for XenoBiotic Laboratories, Contract Research Scientist for Bristol Myers-Squibb Department of Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics and Senior Research Scientist for Alimenterics Corporation. Throughout his career he never forgot his original calling as an educator, and took a role teaching Physics, Chemistry and Investigative & Physical Science at North Plainfield High School in North Plainfield, NJ in 2000.
Dr. Kammerer was an expert in Pharmacology, Pharmaceuticals and drug metabolism research. He authored over 86 publications, attended over 28 major scientific meetings, was an invited speaker at 15 different symposiums, reviewer for 8 scientific publications, participant or advisor for 6 national television programs, and expert legal consultant to numerous lawsuits and cases involving drug use or abuse.
In 2015 Craig retired and was able to devote his time to his many other passionate interests. Despite his demanding career, he was also very involved in his hobbies and activities throughout his life. He became interested in model trains when he was young, and continued to foster that interest through attendance at numerous train conventions over the years. Craig had a love for music which was inspired by his beloved mother. He played trumpet all throughout his early school and high school years, and was told that he should consider a career in music.
Craig was an avid enthusiast and researcher of history, including World War II militaria, stamps and historical currencies. His biggest accomplishment was becoming an expert in the field of numismatics. His interest in numismatics grew over the years through his membership in 4 different coin societies, keeping in contact with over 100 different colleagues in this field across numerous countries.
His natural curiosity and interest in history led Craig to research his own family history as well. Craig was also an expert in genealogy, and has discovered and detailed the lives of countless ancestors of the Kammerer and Kehoe family. His research reaches as far back as 3-4 centuries of descendants. To that end, he began to write the stories of his own family history. He published 2 books about the Meeker family, whose line is closely attached to his own. Craig also was working on publishing 6 more books detailing his father’s military unit in World War II and the history of the Kammerer family and it’s associated lineages.
Although he led a vast life of interests and talents, Craig’s greatest joy was his family. He actively participated in the lives of his children, volunteering as an assistant coach for their sports teams. Craig gave lectures at his children’s schools, coming to speak about his interest in research and science to inspire the children on career day. He volunteered his time with his sons’ Boy Scout Troop, serving as Troop Committee member and chairman for many years. Craig’s greatest gift was learning about, documenting, educating, sharing and preserving the joy of Family.
Craig was a man of many passions, interests and talents, and was loved by all who knew him well. He cared deeply about the countless students whose lives he touched over the years as an educator. He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to learn from him, his innumerable colleagues and friends, but most of all by his beloved family, children, and grandchildren.
Craig is pre-deceased by his father Richard Harrison Kammerer, mother Doreen Kehoe Kammerer and father’s second wife Janice Howland Kammerer. He is survived by his three children, Michael Robert Kammerer with his wife Kelly, Julia Erin Meyers with her husband Brian and Stephen Harrison Kammerer with his wife Jessica; six grandchildren, Cole Harrison Meyers, Grayson Scott Meyers, Ashley Erin Meyers, Logan Edward Kammerer, Ella Grace Meyers and Malcolm Richard Kammerer; and two siblings, Steve Kammerer and Kit Schumaker with her husband Robert.
Visiting hours will be Monday, July 29th, 3 pm to 7 pm at the Bradley Brough & Dangler Funeral Home, 299 Morris Ave. Summit, NJ. A Funeral Service and interment will be held on Tuesday, July 30, 2024 at 1:30 pm at the New Providence Presbyterian Church.