Patrick M. Casper

Patrick M. Casper, age 65, passed away peacefully in his Norfolk, Massachusetts home on Thursday, January 5, 2017, surrounded by his loving family. Patrick was born in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania on August 4, 1951. He grew up in Canaan, Connecticut and Enfield, Connecticut. Canaan was special in his heart because it was the home of his maternal grandparents, Giulio and Marie Fracaro, and their large extended family. Chilton, Wisconsin was special in his heart because it was the home of his paternal grandparents, Max and Nellie Casper, and their large extended family. In his youth, Patrick lived a wonderful stereotypical 50s and 60s life of family, friends, boy scouts, sandlot baseball, erector sets, electric trains, girls and cars. Sports always played an important part in his life. He played football and baseball for Enfield High School and continued his athletic career at Dean College in Franklin, Massachusetts. After college Patrick settled in western Massachusetts and started a long career in sales beginning with selling sporting goods for the F.W.Woolworth Company. In 1980 he moved to Medfield, Massachusetts and began working for Xerox where he worked for 23 years. Patrick realized a lifelong dream when he purchased and opened Casper's, a restaurant in Franklin, Massachusetts. He continued his sales with career with Pitney Bowes and Ricoh USA. Patrick was extremely lucky to meet a girl named Veronica on a summer night at the Purple Shamrock in Boston in 1982. He was smart enough to marry that girl in July 1984 in Newport, Rhode Island. After marrying, Patrick built a home for his family in Norfolk, Massachusetts. To clarify, this house was built with his own hands and it was a labor of absolute love. This home was and continues to be the center of their family life. It was always shared with family, friends and neighbors for gatherings poolside in the summer and under the 16 foot Christmas tree for the holidays. Because making and sharing and food was so important to Patrick there were countless meals prepared and shared in this home that will never be forgotten. Patrick also made his home on the water in his sailing vessels, the Argonaut and the Valkyrie, from Bend Boat Basin in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. He loved being on the water. This was his slice of heaven on earth and the place where his spirit soared. These times were also shared with family and friends but the best times were when he and Veronica were alone on summer evenings with full sails and the rails in the water. Norfolk, Massachusetts was the place he and Veronica and their children will forever call "home." They built a life that included church, school, sports and community. Patrick was a member of St. Jude Catholic Church. He was also a strong advocate for and active in youth baseball, hockey, lacrosse, softball and field hockey. He volunteered for many years on the boards of and as a coach with Norfolk Little League, the King Philip Walpole Youth Hockey Association and AAU baseball. He had a great passion for teaching all kids, most of all his own, the fundamentals of sports and for engendering in them all THE LOVE OF THE GAME. A lifelong adventurer, Patrick indulged his wanderlust and shared it with his children in traveling far and wide by plane, train and automobile. His children have wonderful memories of their adventures with dad, often in pursuit of a new rollercoaster or to a hockey or baseball tournament. There were many adventures to see family or to experience a new place, particularly a new beach (for mom and the kids, not him as he hated sand). Their last family adventure was a trip to Italy in September that included the entire family that Patrick absolutely enjoyed and loved tremendously. Before he died, Patrick shared with this family that he had lived a wonderful life. What a blessing he was to those he loved. A perfect day for him was at home with his children. Nothing beat that. Patrick lives on in the faces of his children and in the walls and yard of his beloved home. He will be remembered every time we see the ocean or get a chance to be on the water. All sports, especially baseball, football and hockey, will remind us of him. We will actually have to stop when we pass a sandlot game. We will take him with us when we travel to the places he went and to those places he never made it to. Rollercoasters, trains (especially ones will steam engines) and cars (1956 Chevys) will evoke great memories. Meals shared and gatherings with family and friends will always include him. And every time we pass a candy stand we will have a chuckle thinking of the sweets he loved so much. Where we are, he will always be. Beloved husband of Veronica L. Vaca. Loving father of Colin P. Casper of Norton, Caroline P. Casper of Boston, and Conor P. Casper and his wife Etel Amato of Truro, and their loving dog Finley. Cherished grandfather of Daisy Marie Casper. Devoted son of Theresa M. (Fracaro) Casper of Enfield, CT and the late Arthur J. Casper. Brother of Kathleen Haley and her husband, Bob, of San Diego, CA and Nancy Casper of Falls Church, VA. Also survived by members of his large extended Casper and Fracaro and Vaca and Villa families. Relatives and friends are kindly invited to attend Pat's Life Celebration on Wednesday, January 11, 2017 from 4-8 PM in the James H. Delaney & Son Funeral Home, 48 Common Street, Walpole. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated in Saint Jude Church, 86 Main Street, Norfolk on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 10:00 AM. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Patrick's name to: Dr. Brian Wolpin Research Fund, Attn: Hillary D. Repucci, Division of Development and the Jimmy Fund, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, 100 Brookline Place West, Brookline, MA 02445-7226.