Joseph Casselli

Casselli Joseph Casselli, born October 14, 1939, died November 6, 2016. Joe Casselli was born in Brooklyn, NY and spent his youth in Roselle Park, NJ before moving to Miami, FL. After serving four years in the United States Air Force in 1961 he began his career in Columbus, OH selling insurance with Mutual of New York. His relentless drive and determination resulted in a successful career in the financial services industry. He established Joseph Casselli & Associates and Cass Financial Strategies becoming an expert in charitable tax planning. He traveled extensively providing retirement and estate planning education for the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons as well as other organizations and individuals. He was a member of the Columbus Chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors, a qualifying and life member of the Million Dollar Round Table since 1965, and qualified for the National Sales Achievement and National Quality Awards every year since 1961. Joe lived large and elevated the lives of those around him. He was preceded in death by his sister, Rosemarie Gannon. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Evelyn; three children, Michele (Bryce) Kurfees, Stephen (Melissa) Casselli, Jennifer (Bret) Riemenschneider; and eight grandchildren, Brennan, Anna, Lilly Kurfees, CJ (Hillary), Daniel (Alexa), Katie Casselli, Boe and Nic Riemenschneider; and brothers, Anthony and Robert Casselli. He and Evelyn traveled the world, but had a particular love for Italy where they ventured repeatedly. As a skilled amateur photographer, Joe chronicled his life and travels through the lens of his camera producing enduring portraits, landscapes and nature shots. He was a member of Brookside Country Club for thirty years where he will be remembered as "gut shot Joe" due to his high risk (and maddening good luck) in playing gin with his buddies. He enjoyed nothing more than entertaining the members of his family with good food (in his retirement he became an outstanding cook- in large measure due to the expertise of his sous-chef Evelyn), always good wine and unending laughter. Stories of his generosity to both family and friends are legendary. He loved to give and did so to the end. For many years he supported the Joseph & Evelyn Casselli Donor Advised Fund for Homeless Families Foundation through the Columbus Community Foundation. The family will receive visitors from 4-7 p.m. at SCHOEDINGER NORTHWEST CHAPEL, 1740 Zollinger Rd. on Wednesday, November 9. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, November 10, 2016 at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church, 1559 Roxbury Rd. with Father Anthony Missimi as Celebrant. Interment to follow at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. In Lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Homeless Families Foundation, 33 N. Grubb St., Columbus, OH 43215-2748. (homelessfamiliesfoundation.org). Visit www.schoedinger.com to share a favorite memory of Joe.