Edward L. Casey

Edward L. Casey Edward L. Casey NATICK Edward L. Casey, 95, of Natick, died Sunday, December 27, 2009. Mr. Casey was born on Sept. 13, 1914 in Lynn and was raised in Natick. He graduated from Natick High School in 1931, Cheshire Academy in 1933, and Dartmouth College in 1937. At Dartmouth, he earned letters in football and baseball. He received a masters degree from Boston University in 1954. When he entered Natick High School in 1929, he had no thought of ever attending college. This was not unusual because times were hard and money was scarce. Through scholarships and his own hard work, he was able to attend college. He worked in the Natick School District for 43 years, as a teacher, coach, and administrator, serving as the principal of Coolidge Junior High School for 21 years. He retired in 1981 from Coolidge, where he had been a member of the first class of students to attend the school. Mr. Casey was a standout athlete at Natick High and at Dartmouth. He also played baseball in the semiprofessional Northern League and the Twin State League. He was proud of the fact that in all his coaching years in Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts he had never had a losing season. During World War II, Mr. Casey served in Europe and the Pacific as a Navy lieutenant. He was aboard the battleship Missouri and witnessed the Japanese surrender to Gen. Douglas A. MacArthur. In 1996, he was a member of the first class of the Natick High School Wall of Achievement where he was honored for inspiring thousands of students with his fairness, honesty, and devotion to learning. In 1981, he was honored by the Massachusetts Junior-Middle School Principals Association for Outstanding Services in Education. He wrote once, During my many years of teaching and coaching, my greatest pleasure has been working with young people whether in the classroom or on the playing fields. I would like to think I have made a difference. I taught them to appreciate the joy of learning, the challenge of competition, and the satisfaction of playing the game fair and square. Mr. Casey was a member of St. Patrick's Parish, Natick, and served as an usher for 51 years. He was also a member and past president of the Retired Educators Association of Massachusetts. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Claire A. Smith. He is also survived by his son, Michael, and his wife, Claire, of Medway, and their children, Erin and Ryan; and by his daughter, Paula, and her husband, George Bellerose, of Weybridge, Vt., and their daughter, Anne, of Wilmington, N.C. A funeral Mass will be held on Thursday, Dec. 31, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. in St. Patrick's Church, Natick. Visiting hours in the John Everett & Sons Funeral Home, 4 Park St. (at Natick Common), Natick are on Wednesday, December 30 from 4-7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent to the Edward L. and Claire A. Casey Scholarship Fund, c/o Natick High School, 15 West St. Natick, MA 01760.