Obituary for Donald Edward Casey Jr.
Donald Edward Casey Junior, loving husband of Christine, loving father of Erin Kathleen, and devoted grandfather to Kai Austin Nafziger and Rhys Casey Nafziger, dear brother of George, Fred, Kathy and Alan, died on September 20, 2022.
Born in Chicago in 1950, Don showed an early talent for the trumpet, and after graduating from Evanston Township High School entered the Eastman School of Music as a trumpet performance major. Don transferred to Northwestern University School of Music as a Music Education major. There he met Chris, and after graduation in 1972 they married. After graduate degrees and teaching in Round Lake Illinois, and in Bloomington and Northfield, Minnesota, Northwestern University offered Don a position as a band director, where he directed the Symphonic Band and co-directed the Northwestern Wildcat Marching Band. Following his doctorate degree at the University of Illinois,
Don returned to Northwestern for another fourteen years, teaching Music Education and advising graduate students on their masters and doctoral studies. When the position of Dean of the DePaul School of Music became available, Don applied and was selected. Don enjoyed the friendship and respect of his faculty and colleagues alike. During his tenure, Don helped transform the School of Music through his vision for the undergraduate and graduate curricula and through fundraising. He facilitated the expansion of the Community Music Program and also helped initiate and produce Christmas at DePaul, which has grown into one of the university’s most beloved holiday traditions. Along with other members of the DePaul community, his fundraising efforts helped secure the construction of the world-class Holtschneider Performance Center. Don was Dean of the School of Music from 1995 until his retirement in 2014.
He and Chris remained in the Chicago area until 2020, when they moved to Williamstown, Massachusetts to be near their daughter and grandchildren. Don enjoyed sailing, golf, scuba diving, and vacation time spent in Kauai. He passed away peacefully at the BayState Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts, surrounded by his family.
A memorial for Don will be held in the Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts on November 12 at 2:00 pm, followed by a celebration of his life at DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois on December 5 at 3:00 pm. To add to the Book of Memories please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.
Born in Chicago in 1950, Don showed an early talent for the trumpet, and after graduating from Evanston Township High School entered the Eastman School of Music as a trumpet performance major. Don transferred to Northwestern University School of Music as a Music Education major. There he met Chris, and after graduation in 1972 they married. After graduate degrees and teaching in Round Lake Illinois, and in Bloomington and Northfield, Minnesota, Northwestern University offered Don a position as a band director, where he directed the Symphonic Band and co-directed the Northwestern Wildcat Marching Band. Following his doctorate degree at the University of Illinois,
Don returned to Northwestern for another fourteen years, teaching Music Education and advising graduate students on their masters and doctoral studies. When the position of Dean of the DePaul School of Music became available, Don applied and was selected. Don enjoyed the friendship and respect of his faculty and colleagues alike. During his tenure, Don helped transform the School of Music through his vision for the undergraduate and graduate curricula and through fundraising. He facilitated the expansion of the Community Music Program and also helped initiate and produce Christmas at DePaul, which has grown into one of the university’s most beloved holiday traditions. Along with other members of the DePaul community, his fundraising efforts helped secure the construction of the world-class Holtschneider Performance Center. Don was Dean of the School of Music from 1995 until his retirement in 2014.
He and Chris remained in the Chicago area until 2020, when they moved to Williamstown, Massachusetts to be near their daughter and grandchildren. Don enjoyed sailing, golf, scuba diving, and vacation time spent in Kauai. He passed away peacefully at the BayState Hospital in Springfield, Massachusetts, surrounded by his family.
A memorial for Don will be held in the Brooks-Rogers Recital Hall at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts on November 12 at 2:00 pm, followed by a celebration of his life at DePaul University, Chicago, Illinois on December 5 at 3:00 pm. To add to the Book of Memories please visit flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com.