John Casolo

Our father, John A. Casolo, June 26, 1932- March 27, 2024, most recently of Oakville CT died peacefully on Wednesday March 27, 2024 at the Midstate Medical Center in Meriden Connecticut after a brief illness. His last days were filled with family and friends, a phone that didn't stop ringing, and the kindest care by nurses and staff. He was born in Stamford CT. to Patsy and Marion Casolo on June 26, 1932. He is remembered as a very special father who motivated us to embrace life to its fullest, to see obstacles as opportunities, and to live in conversation with our truest selves.
Losing one eye as a toddler, Dad would say that his father always told him, "Johnny you can do as much with one eye as the other kids can with two". That early encouragement stayed with him his whole life. He learned the precision skill of jig boring and joined his father's business, until he achieved his dream of opening a Honda motorcycle franchise, Family Cycle Center in Waterbury CT, which he kept until completely losing his sight in 1984. In the late 1980s he started blind skiing and golf and soon with the company of his consecutive seeing eye dogs, began travelling extensively around the US and the world, forging friendships and winning awards and/or placing in over thirty competitions over the years.
As one friend wrote, "John's goals were ´To prove to the world that you don't need sight to play and enjoy this wonderful game of golf. To prove to the world that you don't have to see it to tee it. To display and prove the fact that given the opportunity anything is possible. And to show that blind golfers love this game as much as, if not more than our sighted counter-parts.' He achieved all this and so much more." The USBGA is establishing the John Casolo Players Award to henceforth be awarded annually to players whose ability to surpass the odds, inspire, and mentor others is a model Dad's own.
Dad's enthusiasm, positive outlook, and sense of humor galvanized and inspired an ever expanding community of friends from his early years of dirt bike racing, throwing pizza dough, and navigating the motorcycle sales and repair network, through thirty years of blind sking with Wasatch Adaptive Sports to almost forty years with of golfing on his own and through the Gaylord Sports Association and United States Blind Golf Association.
Throughout his life, these friends offered their support and shared his passion for motorcycles, golf, skiing, and/or exercise, and a love for food and revelry. His annual Christmas letter, phone calls, motivational speaking engagements, errands and ongoing tournaments kept him in touch with as many of them as possible, including RaKell Yancey Gardner, June Gemino, Danny and Helene Gallulo, Barbara Healey, Lee Johnson, Gary Kendall, Margie and Nick Kominos, Dianne Matthews, Dave Mouton, Steve Pitura, Steve Young and the late Dave Smudin, as well as the countless other coaches, trainers, companions, buddies, neighbors, coworkers, mentees and mentors. Their names were engraved in his heart and in many ways they constitute his third family.
Dad loved and encouraged a large family of very independent healers, creators, fixers and doers who savor a good laugh, good drink and food, or both. He is survived by us, his two daughters, Jennifer J. Casolo (Peter Marchetti), and Shari Casolo (Shelly Pirroni), sons Lewis Casolo, Jeffery A. Casolo, and Scott M. Casolo and his wife, Lisa Marie, whose home he shared the last five years, and daughter-in-law, Doreen Casolo. He also leaves behind our mothers, Audrey J. Casolo and Sharon A. Dube; eight grandchildren, Eric Williams, Ryan Williams (Alexis), Kayla Rickard (Steven), Matthew Casolo, Amanda Goyn (Mike), Jeffrey R. Casolo, Scott A. Casolo (Lauren), and Sarah Casolo; and seven great-grandchildren, Gage, Charlotte, Indy, Lana, Colin, Eleanor, and Julian as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins and a treasured extended family including Veronica Ambrose, Sammy Coty, Susan Donaldson, Joanna Lacman and Laurie Krantz. He will be sadly missed and will live on in each of us as we choose to live as he did --guided by deeper truths, not just those seen by the eyes.
Dad is predeceased by his first son, John P. Casolo of Ocala FL, his partner Nancy Sena of Waterbury CT and his sisters, Mary J. Augustus of Stamford CT a and Florence L. Lynch of New Canaan, and brother-in-laws, Tony Augustus and Tommy Lynch.
Further Dad's life was filled with the dog hair, paw prints, and faithful service and companionship of four loving seeing eye dogs-the late Presto, Gregger, and Halley, and still with us-- Grant who was able to say goodbye.
A Catholic memorial mass will be held in his honor on April 20, 2024 at 10:00 am at St. John's Church, Post Road, Darien CT 06820. Interment of his ashes will then take place at St. John's RC Cemetery, Darien. No calling hours will be held. A celebration of life will follow. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the guide dog school that made his new life possible: Seeing Eye, P.O. Box 375, Morristown, New Jersey 07963-0375. To send online condolences to the family, please visit www.gallagherfuneralhome.com and/or www.caringbridge.org/visit/johncasolo.
Services are under the care of Thomas M. Gallagher Funeral Home located at 104 Myrtle Ave. Stamford, CT 06902. For online condolences please visit Gallagherfuneralhome.com