Robert C. Casey of Southold died Dec 11, 2014, at Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. He was 92.
Mr. Casey, know to all as “Bob” was born November 13, 1922, in Brooklyn to John and Lucienne (Didier) Casey. He was raised in Brooklyn and Rockville Centre.
It was as much an act of duty and service to his family as to his country that Bob immediately enlisted for World War II in 1942 . His mother, Lucienne, from Tourcoing in France, had come to the U.S. as a World War I war bride so Bob still had a grandmother, aunts, uncles and cousins living in France under the control of the Nazis. He served in the Army Air Force as a glider pilot and made landings in Normandy during the D-Day invasion, in Holland and into Germany, over the Rhine. Bob was awarded the Air Medal with two clusters and a battlefield promotion to First Lieutenant.
After the war Bob worked briefly at Brown Brothers Harriman and National Cash Register. He then joined the 3M Company, where he spent 39 years as a sales representative in New York City.
Bob loved to recount his stories of his time overseas during the war. He attended annual Glider Pilot Association reunions held in different U.S. locations every year. He also attended the 35th, 40th, 50th and 60th D-Day anniversaries in Normandy where he was honored for his service. Years earlier he had begun a pen pal relationship with a young Frenchman, Philippe Esvelin, whose interest in the war led him to contact Bob after he took his address from the guest register at the American Cemetery in Normandy. Philippe wrote his first book about the D-Day gliders in 2001 with a preface written by Bob.
Before moving to Southold in 1988, Bob and his family lived in Garden City, where he was active in St. Joseph’s Church, Little League, girls softball, Boy Scouts and Knights of Columbus. He served two terms as Grand Knight of the Garden City Council.
While living in Southold, Bob was an active supporter of Eastern Long Island Hospital in Greenport. He served on the board of trustees for six years and, as a member of the Community Development Committee helped plan various fundraising events. He belonged to the parish of St Patrick R.C. Church in Southold and also the local American Legion and Knights of Columbus chapters.
Bob loved golf, boating, fishing and was a hobbyist, making furniture and birdhouses; and collecting stamps and coins. He also enjoyed gardening, photography and poker. Bob was always gregarious and social and loved meeting new people.
Bob is survived by his wife of 62 years, Betty, as well as his four children, Jane Pedrioli of London, Cathleen of New York City and Orient Point, Mary of Newburyport, Mass. and William of Brightwaters. Also surviving are seven grandchildren, brothers Daniel and James Casey and sisters Frances Yuengling and Jacqueline Bormann. Bob was predeceased by sisters Evelynne Kapples and Mary Jane Wass, and his brother John.
The family will receive visitors Sunday, Dec. 14, from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. at Coster-Heppner Funeral Home in Cutchogue. A funeral Mass will be offered Monday, Dec. 15 at 10 a.m. at St. Patrick R.C. Church in Southold. Interment with military honors will follow at Calverton National Cemetery.
Memorial donations to Southold Town Senior Services, P. O. Box 85, Mattituck, NY 11952 would be appreciated.
This is a paid notice.
