In Memory

Daniel Casey - Class Of 1974

 
Photo Daniel Casey, 51, one of the few people besides Mary Tyler Moore who could turn the world on with a smile, died in Tallahassee, Florida, on Monday, September 17, 2007.

There will be a memorial celebration of Dan's life from 6 until 9 p.m. Friday, September 28, 2007, at the Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts, located at 125 North Gadsden Street, in Tallahassee, Florida. In addition, there will be a memorial service held 2 p.m. Sunday, September 30, 2007, at Teague Funeral Home, located at 2260 Ivy Road, in Charlottesville, Virginia.

It was only fitting that Dan passed away in the midst of cooking, one of his most beloved activities. Growing up in Hampton, Virginia, Dan began baking for his family at the age of eight, and began turning out family meals at the age of 12. The devotion to others that he showed at an early age continued into adulthood. As a result of watching his sister Darlene "Casey" Beeghly successfully battle bone cancer as a teenager, he was one of the community members who spearheaded the creation of the Hearthstone House in Charlottesville for pediatric patients and their families; he was manager and later executive director of that house from 1982 until 1993, by which time it had become the Ronald McDonald House of Charlottesville. After 1993, he held various positions in Charlottesville, Houston, Texas, and Tallahassee, Florida, notably at the Virginia Discovery Museum of Charlottesville, and the Agency for Workforce Innovation of Tallahassee. In 2005, he realized a long-held dream of being able to devote himself to being a full -time homemaker, working in his lavish garden, throwing meticulously planned dinner parties, assembling gift baskets for overnight guests, being an active member of his community by supporting local artists and non-profit organizations, and spending countless hours devoting himself to the happiness of his family and friends, and especially to the happiness of children. He was particularly fond of celebrating friends' birthdays by serenading them with "Happy Birthday" sung in the style of Marilyn Monroe. In these and many other ways, he enacted his deep-seated confidence that spreading gentleness, kindness and beauty in the world was the best way to improve it.

Dan is survived by his mother, Jeanette Buell Casey; his partner of almost 14 years, Martin Kavka of Tallahassee, Florida, with whom he fervently anticipated the equalization of marriage rights; brother, Virgil (Wink) Casey and his wife, Kathy, of Covesville, Virginia; sister, Jenny Blankenship and her husband, Donnie, his twin brother, Sam Casey, and his sister, Darlene "Casey" Beeghly and her husband, Tim, all of Charlottesville.

Dan was an incredibly loving, supportive, and generous uncle and will be greatly missed by his nieces and nephews: Mike Casey, Amy Hall, Angela White and her husband, Kyle, Alison Casey, Julie Bunch and her husband, John, Tony Casey, Lizzy Casey, and Garrett and Summerlyn Beeghly. Dan also leaves behind great -nieces and great-nephews Ashley Burgess, Cory Burgess, Jonathan Bunch, Timmy Bunch, Keshawn Strother, Kayden Hall, and Caleb White; his future mother-in -law, Kamila Kavka of Tallahassee, Florida; and a slew of friends, including numerous scholars in religious studies and other fields, who all recognized his innate wisdom and goodness.

Dan was preceded in death by his father, the Reverend Virgil Casey; and his sister, Carlene Casey Purvis.

Memorial contributions may be made to Lemoyne Center for the Visual Arts, 125 North Gadsden Street, Tallahassee, FL 32301, and to the Virginia Discovery Museum, 524 East Main Street, Charlottesville, VA 22902.

Friends may sign the guest register at teaguefuneralhome.com.
Published in the Daily Progress from September 20 to September 26, 2007

 

Name submitted by Tim Fredrikson.

Obituary submitted by Sam Clarke.