Donald F. CASTOR

CASTOR, Donald F. 81, of Tampa, passed away peacefully on April 9, 2013. He is survived by his wife of 10 years, Mickey Adams Castor; his children, U.S. Representative Kathy Castor (Bill Lewis) of Tampa; Florida Representative Karen Castor Dentel (Eric) of Maitland and Judge Frank Castor II (Rita) of West Palm Beach; his grandchildren, Julia and Chrissy Lewis, Wyatt and Caroline Dentel and Kerry & Katie Castor; his stepchildren, Chris Adams of Sebring; Kate (Terry) Goss of New York City; and David (Lori) Adams of Reno; stepgrandchildren, Zachary, Charlotte & Maya Goss, and Gavin Adams. Judge Castor was born in Tampa on July 15, 1931. He was a proud graduate of Hillsborough High School, Class of '49, where he was active in student government and served as aninternational vice-president in the Key Club. Judge Castor maintained many fond friendships from his early school days. Judge Castor graduated from Duke University, BA 1953, and attended the University of Florida Law School before transferring to Stetson University College of Law in St. Petersburg where he earned his law degree in 1956. He was admitted to the Florida Bar that same year. Judge Castor later attended the School for Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. An avid traveler who visited 80 countries, Judge Castor met his former wife Betty Castor while touring the Middle East, married in 1966, and moved to Miami. He joined the Dade County State Attorney's Office and later became the Assistant Director of Miami Legal Services. In 1967, Judge Castor was recruited by the Board of the Bay Area Legal Services to serve as the first Executive Director. Judge Castor subsequently joined the Tampa law firm of Albritton, Sessums and Ryder where he practiced law for several years. Following a career in private practice, he was appointed by Governor Reubin Askew to the county court in 1976. He served for two decades as a Hillsborough County Court Judge before retiring in 1997. In 2002, Judge Castor married Mickey Adams of Altamonte Springs. Mickey is President of the Hillsborough County League of Women Voters. They shared an interest in public affairs, Duke basketball and traveled widely, including visits to China and Europe. A favorite trip was their annual summer excursion to the Chautauqua Institution in New York State. Judge Castor was recently honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Hillsborough County Bar Association in recognition of his years of service to the community, especially the development of a community service initiative for non-violent offenders. He was an active board member of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa and The Spring of Tampa Bay. In addition, he maintained his support of legal services for the poor throughout his professional life & into retirement. His family mourns his loss but celebrates his legacy. A celebration of his life will be held Sunday, April 14th, 2 pm, at Grace Lutheran Church on N. Dale Mabry. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in his honor to the Boys & Girls Club, Bay Area Legal Services or The Spring of Tampa Bay.