William J. Casey, a life-long resident of Medford passed away at the Massachusetts General Hospital on Thursday. He was 93. Born and raised in Medford, he was the son of the late William J. and Rose (McKeon) Casey. William served in the US Navy during World War II as a signalman on the USS Otter. After the war he served as a letter carrier with the US Postal Service. When he retired from the post office, he still had some work left in him so he enjoyed 10 years as a bus driver with the MBTA. A devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend, William is beautifully remembered in the words of his daughter’s eulogy:
“Did you make her a flaming red-head?” That was my father’s inevitable first comment any time I took my mother to get her hair done, or as in the past few years did it myself at home. He asked every single time, so predictable. Just as he predictably went to every single concert, every event, every grandkid’s whatever and milestone. So predictable. That was his strength, even when it was irritating. “Slow down, the road is icy, and this is steeper than it looks.” “I know, Dad”, even as I felt the ABS kick in. I knew he would never stop teaching me to drive, never stop shaking his head when I told him no, I don’t know my bank balance, never stop teaching, caring, wanting. His was unwavering loyalty. Caring for my mother as her world shrank around her was the measure of the man. His wife, his family first and always. As an only child whose parents died when he was young he craved a big family, and he got one, stubbornly, predictably providing for us and her until his last breath. 69 years of marriage beginning with a “What time is it?” to the pretty girl on Old Orchard Beach who was obviously not wearing a watch. His boys’ night out was an occasional trip to Wonderland where he always broke even. He never hired a handy man, jury rigging whatever needed fixing and hollering for my mother to grab the other end. They were a team, that is what he would say whenever anyone asked if caring for her was too large a burden.
She will miss him, the one she always knows, and she won’t remember where he has gone. He was convinced he would live forever, and when you were around him you felt it had to be true. His pacemaker battery was good for another ten years, they renewed his driver’s license, the economy will rebound so now is the time to buy stocks. His one concession to the inevitable was to buy a plot big enough for all of us, his need to keep his family close by going beyond this life.
I remember flying across the ocean with three little girls who spoke a babbling gibberish of Polish, English, and Italian. Flying to far off Florida to meet their new family. My father met us at the airport, and after he carefully belted in each sleeping child, he turned to me and said, “Why don’t you go get three more.” I did bring home one more, and he loved her as he loved us all.
It is such a shock. Even as he aged, as he grew frail this is still a shock, a huge hole ripped into the fabric of our lives. They’ll be no pomp and ceremony, but there will be the sound of taps echoing around Oak Grove as we say farewell. I’ll remember his irritating whistling of Stars and Stripes through his teeth, him teaching us how to tie knots and send Morse code, his unending pride in each of us, and his love for the most wonderful woman in the world. I have to go now, time to wash this flaming red dye out of my hair. Love you, Dad.
The beloved husband of Winifred (Manning) Casey, with whom he shared 69 years of marriage William was a devoted father to Christine Cohen and her husband Howard, Elaine Boerger, Janet Casey and her husband Guido Tamburini, William J. Casey and his wife Lisa, Matthew Casey and his wife Francesca Silvi Casey. He was a loving grandfather to Michael Boerger; Patrick Cohen, Jeffrey Cohen and Emily Cohen; Wiktoria Tamburini, Jadwiga Tamburini, Zofia Tamburini and Katherine Casey; Andrew Casey and Allison Casey; Julia Casey and Kevin Casey.
A private burial service will be conducted at Oak Grove Cemetery. Please honor William’s memory by making a contribution in his name to the Salvation Army of Massachusetts, 25 Shawmut Road, Canton, MA 02121.