Roger Casey
Obituary Reports the death of an individual, providing an account of the person’s life including their achievements, any controversies in which they were involved, and reminiscences by people who knew them.
Roger Casey of Pleasantville passed away peacefully on Apr. 16 at Calvary Hospital after living courageously with Parkinson’s disease for many years.
Roger was born on Oct. 4, 1946, in New York City, the son of Irish immigrants Margaret (Deighan) and Patrick Casey. His Irish heritage influenced Roger throughout his life.
Roger attended LaSalle High School and Fordham University and earned a master’s from Columbia University Teachers College. He began teaching mathematics at Valhalla High School as a graduate student in 1968 and remained there for almost 40 years, making a lasting impact both personally and professionally. Roger’s role expanded into computer science when the district received its first “micro-computer” in 1979, and he went on to develop a district-wide technology program. He was highly regarded as a talented, patient teacher with genuine interest in his students, as well as a valued colleague and friend.
As a youngster, Roger began taking lessons at the famous McNiff School of Irish Dancing and went on to become a champion dancer, winning both the United States championship belt and the Peter McNiff Memorial belt. He was later a teacher of his own school of Irish dance.
It was through Irish dancing that Roger met his beloved wife of 46 years, Gail, also a dancer. Roger held certifications from The Irish Dancing Commission in Dublin and was a respected adjudicator at competitions around the country for many years, making lifelong friends along the way. Roger had a passion for traditional Irish music, rooted in gatherings of musicians at his parents’ home as a child, and thoroughly enjoyed a good Irish music session, preferably at a pub in Ireland.
Roger was also an avid runner from the time he was at LaSalle, completing the New York City Marathon six times, from 1978 to 1983, in addition to numerous other races over the years. After moving to Westchester, Roger spent countless hours on the trails at Rockefeller Park Preserve, even years into his diagnosis. He was a familiar sight jogging on the streets of Pleasantville, often with the family golden retriever, Brooklyn, in tow. He was a lector at Holy Innocents Church for many years and never missed an opportunity to cheer on the Casey kids and their friends at soccer, basketball and field hockey games.
Roger had a great smile, an easy laugh and a lively sense of humor, and was a wonderful host at many gatherings of friends and extended family. He was a true gentleman, and his kind, generous, unassuming nature and the warmth of his personality made him beloved to all who knew him. He will be dearly missed.
Family was everything to Roger. He is survived by his loving wife, Gail; their daughter Carolyn and her husband, Andrew Lefkowits; their daughter Nora and her husband, Brian Phelan; their son Kevin; four grandchildren who love their Pops – Maggie and Anna Lefkowits and Eoin and Fiona Phelan; and his late brother John’s family – sister-in-law Kathy, nephew Sean, niece Erin and her husband, Brian Appleton, and their children, Reed, Casey and John.
The family welcomed visitors at Beecher Flooks Funeral Home in Pleasantville on Apr. 23. A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Apr. 24 at Holy Innocents Church in Pleasantville. A private burial will take place at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Roger’s name to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research (https://www.michaeljfox.org/) or Calvary Hospital (https://www.calvaryhospital.org/).
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