ALEXANDER CASSIE

I was thinking about you, hoping you were well. I was trying to reach you. Rest in peace my friend.

A truly intelligent man, a kind person and a boy what a life he enjoyed! I was shocked to hear he wasn´t doing well but even then he seemed cheery and positive knowing "the hourglass sands was getting to empty" Selling and gabbing to customers, he sure lived for Brimfield. The last fall Brimfield I stayed a couple days spending more time than ever before with him. Some meals, helping him with some things, talking antiques, thrift stores and history. I loved the sober arrogant of Alex. ...

Alex sounded like a great guy who will be missed by many. I knew some Cassie´s. Who were his parents and grandparents?

"Look. Do you know what this is?" He holds a fragment between his thumb and finger, pointing to the sky. I see dusty terracotta, a broken piece. "A kylix. A fifth century drinking cup. I owned one." He lifts the shard higher; the sky now lit with Apollo´s sun. "A flat cup so men could lounge and drink." On this sliver of what was, Socrates teaches Alcibiades, Red figured Odysseus lectures Achilles, Dionysius dances with satyrs, Medusa stares back. You looked for art in fragments. I only...

I met Alex in September 1968 on the first day of freshman year at Brandeis, when we introduced ourselves as roommates. We ended up sharing living quarters for the next 6 years, in sketchy apartments in Cambridge, Newton, Beacon Hill, Roxbury and the South End. He became the closest friend I´ve had in my life. Alex was an extraordinary human being. His depth of knowledge, curiosity and memory were all prodigious. He stoically accepted some bad turns in his life, never losing his charm or...

Alex looks like Jay Gatsby in his photo with Laurel. For part of his life, he was a Gatsby-like character, with a great circle of admiring friends. When he was a kid, he was Buzzy, looking for showy caterpillars with me. I kept looking for caterpillars and Alex took another wonderful path.

Alex in the early or mid 1980's at his most debonair.

Alex was a true gentleman and a scholar. I looked forward to seeing him every Brimfield and hearing him share his knowledge of art and culture. He was an honest man and a gentle caring soul who loved beauty and was loved by many. I will miss you Alex. You have touched so many lives and you will not be forgotten.

Heartbroken. So many memories of one of the kindest and most formative people ever in my life.