Arthur "Art" Kameshka

Arthur “Art” Kameshka

   Arthur “Art” Kameshka, 73, passed away at his home in Naperville, IL on Sunday, March 11, 2018. He was born in Homestead, PA on September 3, 1944 and grew up in Munhall, PA where he attended school and graduated from Munhall High School. Thereafter, he graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Science degree in pharmacy.

   He practiced community pharmacy in the Pittsburgh area until he served his country as a U.S. Army pharmacist during the Vietnam Conflict. Upon his discharge, he was a civilian pharmacist at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX where he practiced pharmacy and was a preceptor for pharmacy students from the University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy.

   On March 30, 1985, Art married Rosalie Sagraves, and they moved to Edmond, OK where he practiced community and hospital pharmacy in the Oklahoma City area. Thereafter, they moved to Naperville where he continued practicing pharmacy until his retirement. He was active in many pharmacy organizations such as the Texas Society of Health-System Pharmacists including the Central Texas chapter for which he served as president, the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and the American Pharmacists Association. 

   Art is survived by his wife Rosalie Sagraves, a Portsmouth native and 1963 PHS graduate; sisters Katherine Kameshka and Lydia (Edward) Onders; niece Stacy Tollie; nephew Timothy (Laura Wilbur) Onders; brother-in-law Gregory (Brenda) Sagraves; several nieces and nephews by marriage; and his beloved dog Carmen. His parents preceded him in death.

   Art had a lifetime association with his alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy. He always gave generously to support pets without homes and enjoyed the companionship of many pets throughout his adult life with Carmen being the pet he left behind with his passing. He was a global traveler having visited all 50 U.S. states and all continents except for Antarctica. He could be seen with his camera in safari vehicles on the plains of southern Africa taking pictures of herds of animals including his favorite, but rare, rhinos. He was fortunate to see a great migration of wildebeests and zebras as they lined up in preparation to cross a river in southern Kenya. He visited dozens of South African wineries, many of them centuries old, as his wife tasted the fruit of the vine. We are sure he is planning his next adventure or camera safari from heaven.

   In lieu of flowers, donations in Art’s memory may be made to B.A.A.R.K (Barrington Area Animal Rescue & Kennels NFP) Dog Rescue at 18 Little Bend Road, Barrington Hills, IL 60010, BAARKDogRescue@gmail.com, telephone 847-458-6366. Donations may also be made in Art’s memory to the University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Office of Development, 3501 Terrace Street, 1102 Salk Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, jus73@pitt.edu, telephone 412-648-0185.

   Funeral services for Art will be held on Friday, March 16, 2018 at the Beidelman-Kunsch Funeral Homes & Crematory, Naperville, IL.

   Visitation in Portsmouth will be held Monday, March 19, 2018 from 12 to 2 PM at the Ralph F. Scott Funeral Home with burial following at Memorial Burial Park in Wheelersburg.

   The flag of the US Army will fly at the funeral home in Portsmouth in honor of Mr. Kameshka's service to our country.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Arthur "Art" Kameshka, please visit our floral store.