Jazzway 6004 is on vacation until September! - July 19, 2010
Jazzway 6004 is on vacation until September, but we'll post some great jazz events happening this summer in Baltimore
July 17 at Artscape: The Billie Holiday Tribute Concert
Thanks ALL - we had a great time. All the performances were top notch!
Remembering Uncle Joe
Joseph Albert Casucci - June 15, 1928- July 8, 2010
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Joseph Albert Casucci, 82, of The Villages, Fla., a former Staten Island resident who was one of the founding families of the Eden II School for Autistic Children, died last Thursday in Florida Hospital East, Orlando.
Born in Manhattan, he was brought to West Brighton as a child. After his marriage in 1952, he moved to Sunnyside. He settled in The Villages about 10 years ago.
Mr. Casucci worked for over 20 years as vice president of Covent Ventilating, Manhattan. While working with the company, Mr. Casucci designed air conditioning systems for the former World Trade Center, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall. He retired in 1990.
Mr. Casucci attended McKee High School, and left to join the U.S. Navy, where he served as pharmacist’s mate during World War II. After receiving his general equivalency diploma, Mr. Casucci briefly attended Wagner College, Grymes Hill, and earned a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from New York University’s School of Engineering. According to family, he went to school at night for 12 years while working to support his family.
Mr. Casucci and his wife, Jean, were among the founding families that created the Eden II School for Autistic Children. At that time in 1976, the program operated inside the former Bayley Seton Hospital, Clifton. The program evolved into multiple locations boroughwide that provide classroom and vocational instruction; adaptive physical education; speech therapy; psychological, social and residential services; parent training, and adult training. It serves children from pre-school age to adult.
Mr. Casucci served as the school’s first president and, according to family, because his son, Larry, was autistic, both he and his wife were actively involved in caring for their son and creating the school’s programs.
Mr. Casucci was a man of sincere personal Christian faith, who had a deep love for family and friends, family members said. He was proud of his Italian ethnicity, and was committed to the honor and tradition of his heritage.
Deeply patriotic, he was a former member of the Joseph F. Merrell American Legion Post, West Brighton.
Mr. Casucci was an avid Yankees fan, golfer and a longtime member of the Staten Island Fairway Golf Club.
“He was known for his infectious smile, exceptional dancing ability, generous spirit and uncanny ability to tell an entertaining story,” said his wife of 58 years, the former Jean Polizzi.
He enjoyed spending time with family and was especially devoted to his grandchildren.
Along with his wife, Jean, also surviving are four sons, Steve, Joe, Daniel and Larry; two daughters, Annmarie Mercaldo and Jeanette Rasmussen; one brother, Carmine; four sisters, Antoinette Kilgannon, Rose Collo, Anna Mantani and Florence Peters, and six grandchildren.
The funeral will be Friday from the Harmon Home for Funerals, West Brighton, with a service at 10 a.m. in the Church at the Gateway, Richmond Valley. Burial will be in St. Peter’s Cemetery, West Brighton.
