1925
William
2016
William T. Casey, Sr.
September 9, 1925 — April 1, 2016
The funeral Mass will be held on Saturday, April 9 at 11AM, in Saint Bernard’s Parish at Saint Camillus Church, 333 Mechanic St, Fitchburg. The Casey family invites you to join them for luncheon in the church hall following the service. Brandon Funeral Home, 305 Wanoosnoc Rd., Fitchburg is directing arrangements.
In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial contribution to the Friends of the Fitchburg Public Library 610 Main Street Fitchburg, MA 01420
William was born in Boston on September 9, 1925, the only son of the late William and Ethel (Gibbons) Casey. He graduated from English High in Boston with the Class of 1943. He proudly served his country during WWII in the US Navy as part of the 119th Seabees Naval Construction Battalion, which traveled to New Guinea and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946, and stayed in touch with fellow members of the 119th through annual reunions. After his service, Bill attended Newman Prep, and later graduated from Boston College in 1951 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Government as well as his Master’s in History. He earned his second Master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College in 1965. In 1947, Bill began working at the Boston Public Library, where he was the first male branch librarian in the history of the library. He left the BPL in 1965 to take the position of Library Director at Fitchburg State University, where he remained until his retirement in 1990. His favorite part of that role was interacting with students. Bill was the author of numerous articles, letters to the editor, book reviews, and publications, including “The Education of an Irish American”, a personal memoir. Bill was also a contributing author of “Now Hear This – the Story of American Sailors in WWII” by Edwin Hoyt. After retirement, Bill remained very active in the community. For many seasons, he hosted the local TV show ‘Senior Lifestyles’, a resource program for the elderly. He was a member of the Fitchburg Historical Society and the Friends of the Fitchburg Public Library. In 2002 William was the recipient of the Christiansen Award for many years of service to the Montachusett Opportunity Council, where he served as president for a number of years. Bill loved Irish music and history, reading in a chair by a warm fire, a scone and a cup of tea, and the constant uproar of living with a large family and a string of cherished pets. After nearly 65 years of a marriage both described as “never dull,” William leaves his beloved wife Julia (Tomasini) Casey of Fitchburg; daughters Catherine Meers of Portland, OR; Maria Pagnotta and husband James of Winter Springs, FL; Anne Ortega and husband Craig of Katy, TX; Julianne Forgo and husband Eric of Acton, MA; sons, William T. Casey, Jr. and wife Laurie of Fitchburg, Louis Casey and wife Fiona of Newburgh, UK. Bill was a very proud, loving, and enthusiastic ‘Papa’ to twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his son Stephen Casey and his sister Catherine Casey.
In lieu of flowers please consider a memorial contribution to the Friends of the Fitchburg Public Library 610 Main Street Fitchburg, MA 01420
William was born in Boston on September 9, 1925, the only son of the late William and Ethel (Gibbons) Casey. He graduated from English High in Boston with the Class of 1943. He proudly served his country during WWII in the US Navy as part of the 119th Seabees Naval Construction Battalion, which traveled to New Guinea and the Philippines. He was honorably discharged in 1946, and stayed in touch with fellow members of the 119th through annual reunions. After his service, Bill attended Newman Prep, and later graduated from Boston College in 1951 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Government as well as his Master’s in History. He earned his second Master’s degree in Library Science from Simmons College in 1965. In 1947, Bill began working at the Boston Public Library, where he was the first male branch librarian in the history of the library. He left the BPL in 1965 to take the position of Library Director at Fitchburg State University, where he remained until his retirement in 1990. His favorite part of that role was interacting with students. Bill was the author of numerous articles, letters to the editor, book reviews, and publications, including “The Education of an Irish American”, a personal memoir. Bill was also a contributing author of “Now Hear This – the Story of American Sailors in WWII” by Edwin Hoyt. After retirement, Bill remained very active in the community. For many seasons, he hosted the local TV show ‘Senior Lifestyles’, a resource program for the elderly. He was a member of the Fitchburg Historical Society and the Friends of the Fitchburg Public Library. In 2002 William was the recipient of the Christiansen Award for many years of service to the Montachusett Opportunity Council, where he served as president for a number of years. Bill loved Irish music and history, reading in a chair by a warm fire, a scone and a cup of tea, and the constant uproar of living with a large family and a string of cherished pets. After nearly 65 years of a marriage both described as “never dull,” William leaves his beloved wife Julia (Tomasini) Casey of Fitchburg; daughters Catherine Meers of Portland, OR; Maria Pagnotta and husband James of Winter Springs, FL; Anne Ortega and husband Craig of Katy, TX; Julianne Forgo and husband Eric of Acton, MA; sons, William T. Casey, Jr. and wife Laurie of Fitchburg, Louis Casey and wife Fiona of Newburgh, UK. Bill was a very proud, loving, and enthusiastic ‘Papa’ to twelve grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was predeceased by his son Stephen Casey and his sister Catherine Casey.
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