Joseph K. Casey

Joseph Kenneth Casey, beloved husband of the late Virginia Casey (nee Kelly), loving son of the late Michael Vincent Casey and Alice Lucy (nee Kain) Casey; brother of the late Alice Lucy Casey and uncle of the late Alice L. Casey. He was born Joseph Vincent Casey in Brooklyn, NY, on June 17, 1925. His sister Alice had been born one year earlier.
Early years
Ken's earliest memory of marveling at the world was to watch the iceman cut the ice block on his wagon and then hoist the block on his shoulder and carry it to the Casey's Brownstone's second floor kitchen and its icebox. Ken marveled that it always fit just so.
Another early memory was the sound of the car motors on the streets of Brooklyn–very loud and disrupting children's play and the usual hum of Brooklyn activity.
Ken's father was a newspaper man who had started out as a copy boy. His work demanded working through the night six days a week to get the paper to press. By 1921, he had become real estate editor for the New York Herald Tribune. On Sunday afternoons, his father would lift Ken onto his shoulders and take long walks along the river viewing the New York City skyline. As Ken grew–and against his protests– he had to walk alongside his father as their Sunday afternoon outings continued. Ken's father nicknamed him "The Captain."
Ken attended Catholic schools for grade school and graduated from St Michael's high school in 1943. He was drafted, packed his bags and was ready to go, but he was medically disqualified for military service due to a heart murmur. For the next 2 years Ken studied year round at Fordham University. He recalled the long commutes back and forth to Fordham each day. He graduated with his BA in Math and Physics as well as Philosophy in June of 1945.
He went on immediately to Brown University, where as a research assistant, he translated and analyzed (captured) German and Italian aerodynamics documents. This graduate work brought him to Dayton, Ohio, in 1947. With a Masters Degree in Applied Mathematics, Ken began work for the US Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base as an Analytical Statistician from 1948 until 1952.
In March of 1952, Ken began considering a vocation to the priesthood as a Trappist monk. After 15 months at Our Lady of Gethsemani Abbey, in Kentucky, he decided that his calling lay elsewhere. While at the abbey, his "job" was to be the personal secretary to Thomas Merton.
Ken's long career at General Electric in Evendale, Ohio, began in November of 1953. He received recognition for many contributions to the Flight Propulsion Lab and the Aircraft Engine Group over the years. While working full time, Ken also achieved a PhD in Mathematics from the University of Cincinnati in 1964. After retiring from GE, Ken returned to UC to receive an MA and PhD in Philosophy in 1993 and 1994. Ken also taught courses and sections of courses in various mathematics/engineering courses and philosophy courses. He also contributed a chapter on Gas Dynamics for a USAF textbook as well as articles and reviews for journals.
Ken received a Masters Degree in Theology from Xavier University in 1995. He loved to participate in book clubs, current events discussion groups, and avidly collected books. He kept in touch with his fellow retirees at their various events.
Visitation Monday, July 25th, 9:00am, followed by Mass of Christian Burial at 10:00am, St. Saviour Church, 4136 Myrtle Ave 45236. Mass will be Live Streamed.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest a contribution in his memory to The Brueggeman Center for Interfaith Dialogue at Xavier University or to charity of your choice.
Please enjoy a recording of Ken's New Year's Eve message on the World View's 12-30-2007 broadcast...
To send flowers
to the family or plant a tree
in memory of Joseph K. Casey, please visit our floral store.