Carole Ann Naso

Carole Ann (Hardcastle) Naso November 19, 1936 – January 6, 2026 After a long and courageous battle with dementia, Carole Ann (Hardcastle) Naso, age 89, passed away peacefully on January 6, 2026, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Born on November 19, 1936, in Atlantic City, New Jersey, Carole's love of performance began early. As a child, she famously walked into a local dance studio and offered to clean floors, windows, and mirrors in exchange for lessons-an early sign of the determination and firecracker spirit that defined her life. Her talent quickly earned her a place in the professional child dance troupe Tony Grant's "Stars of Tomorrow," where she performed multiple shows daily during summers on the legendary Steel Pier in Atlantic City. Carole attended Holy Spirit High School in Absecon, New Jersey, where she was a majorette and later earned the title of Miss Ventnor in the Ventnor Beauty Pageant. She went on to nursing school and proudly became a Registered Nurse, a role she would return to throughout her life in service to others. A blind double date-meant for someone else-changed her life forever. When a "Rutgers man" couldn't attend, Bob Naso was sent in his place. The two immediately connected and were married on June 4, 1960, beginning an epic love story that spanned more than 65 years. During Bob's service in the Army Reserves, Carole joined him at Fort Benning, Georgia, and later Fort Dix, New Jersey. After his service, they settled in Piscataway, New Jersey, where Bob worked at Rutgers University for 20 years. While raising their three daughters, Carole balanced motherhood with her passions. After several years of nursing, she returned to dance and musical comedy, teaching at studios throughout the Piscataway area. She also performed professionally as a singer at the Garden State Arts Center. For ten summers, Carole served as the camp nurse at a 500-acre sports camp in upstate Sidney, New York, caring for thousands of campers while surrounded by her family. When the family moved to Teaneck, New Jersey, after Bob was named Head Football Coach at Columbia University, Carole immersed herself once again in dance-traveling into New York City for classes, performing at the Meadowlands during the unveiling of the restored Statue of Liberty, and joining a dance troupe called the Happy Hoofers. She opened her own dance studio in Teaneck, specializing in tap and musical comedy. At the height of her career, she taught more than 300 students, and her annual recitals sold out year after year. Later, a heart health concern led Bob and Carole to East Quogue on Long Island. After a brief rest, Carole returned-tap shoes blazing-to teaching locally and performing with the professional singing group The Sweet Adelines. She continued teaching and choreographing advanced tap dance until the age of 78. In 2014, a vacation with friends brought Bob and Carole to New Smyrna Beach, Florida, a place they quickly made home. Carole joined the choir at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church, volunteered generously, and even built a dance studio in her garage to teach her granddaughter. She officially hung up her tap shoes at age 84 when COVID and her medical conditions made it necessary. Throughout her illness, Bob never once left her side. Carole is survived by her devoted husband, Bob Naso; her daughters, Andrea McCuskey and her husband Samuel McCuskey of Valley Center, California; Cynthia Cantor and her husband Scott Cantor of Bel Air, Maryland; and Felicia Hand and her husband Brian Hand of Port Orange, Florida. She is also survived by her six beloved grandchildren: Alex Cantor of Havre de Grace, Maryland; Sam McCuskey of Madison, Wisconsin; Steven Cantor of New Smyrna Beach, Florida; Mark Cantor of Bel Air, Maryland; Bobby McCuskey of Los Angeles, California; and Delaney Hand of Port Orange, Florida. Carole was a deeply loved force of nature-a performer at heart, with a song always on her lips and rhythm in her soul. She loved fiercely, lived passionately, and left an indelible mark on all who knew her. She will be profoundly missed. A viewing and short service will be held on January 13, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. at Settle-Wilder Funeral Home.