Cameron Mitchell Van Dyke

Cameron “Radar” Van Dyke, 51, passed away at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, Wheeling, WV on October 15, 2024, after a short but fierce battle with recurrent head and neck cancer.

Cameron was born on January 1, 1973, in Columbus, OH to Gary and Sandra (Huffman) Van Dyke. He grew up playing little league baseball with his younger brother, Dan, in Milford, OH outside of Cincinnati before moving to the Marietta area of Ohio. He was a 1991 graduate of Warren High School in Barlow, OH, where he played soccer and was the editor of the school newspaper.

He then attended Ohio Northern University (ONU) in Ada, OH, where he majored in Pharmacy and earned his BS Pharm in 1996. While there, he was initiated into the Gamma Delta chapter of Kappa Psi Pharmaceutical Fraternity, Inc, where he was given the nickname “Radar”, a nod to his resemblance to the M*A*S*H character. After graduation, he worked in community and home infusion pharmacy at Gillespies Drugs/Braden Medical in Caldwell, OH, then for Kmart and Big Bear in Marietta, OH. Since 2003, he has been a pharmacist with Giant Eagle Pharmacy in Marietta where he cared for his customers and patients with compassion and sincerity and brightened his coworkers’ workday.

On October 15, 2011, Cameron married fellow pharmacist and Kappa Psi brother Elizabeth (Poole) Van Dyke of Ligonier, PA at Oglebay Resort in Wheeling, WV surrounded by family and many friends. They and their cats settled in St. Clairsville, OH in 2010 to be equally close to their families.

Cameron continued to be a proud ONU Polar Bear and served on the Alumni Advisory Board from 2012 to 2024. He attended Homecoming as often as he could and was easily recognized by his polar bear head hat. He also stayed an active graduate brother of Kappa Psi where he served in multiple leadership roles and on various committees including being elected to a national executive office from 1999 to 2001. In 2009, Cameron was appointed as the 16th Editor of fraternity’s publication, The MASK, which he continued to work on until his passing. He provided support and mentorship to future pharmacists through both the university and the fraternity. One of his proudest achievements was spearheading the re-activation of the Gamma Delta chapter at ONU in 2010 after a period of dormancy and watching their continued growth and development.

Cameron is survived by his wife and parents, brother Daniel (Jennifer) Van Dyke, nephews Jackson, Brody, and Blake, many loving aunts, uncles, cousins, and extended family, and a chonky cat named Gus.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents Ken and Marilyn (Stiffler) Van Dyke, uncle Darrell Van Dyke, maternal grandparents Glenn and Donna (Bowles) Huffman, aunt Shirley Huffman, and his beloved cat, Coal.

Cameron liked to spend his free time traveling, cheering on Cincinnati and/or Ohio sports, and enjoying life (and cake) with his family, friends, and fraternity brothers. He had a big heart and was always looking out for his loved ones and caring for others. Not one to be overly formal, Cameron never missed an opportunity to represent the Cincinnati Bengals or ONU with some black and orange or Kappa Psi with scarlet and grey. Those who wish to also represent these affiliations (or other favorites) when they come to say good-bye are encouraged to do so.

A viewing and service will be held at Shaw-Davis Funeral Clintonville Chapel, 4341 North High Street, Columbus, OH. Family and friends may pay their respects from 4 pm to 8 pm on Friday, November 1st and at 12 pm on Saturday, November 2nd with a service starting at 1 pm. Cameron also requested a Celebration of Life be held at ONU in Ada, OH at a later date still to be determined.

If anyone wishes to make a donation in Cameron’s memory, please consider donating to the Kappa Psi Foundation (http://www.kappapsifdn.org/index.php) or to Ohio Northern University (https://www.onu.edu/).

There will be a light luncheon afterward the service at the Christian Assembly Church, 4099 Karl Rd, Columbus, OH 43224.