Maurice R. Castagne

Maurice Raymond Castagne, 90, died on February 26, 2011 in Lakewood, New Jersey. He had struggled with heart ailments since 1998, but succumbed from complications of congestive heart failure. Born in Georgetown, then British Guiana, on December 19, 1920, he subsequently moved with his parents to Brooklyn, NY.

Although he studied to become a Catholic priest at Holy Trinity, Alabama, he returned prematurely to the lay world and subsequently earned an international reputation as a photographer and industrial writer in the pulp and paper industry.

He was managing editor of the premier magazine, Pulp & Paper in NYC, editor of PIMA magazine and API. After leaving these corporations, bolstered by his reputation he with the help of his wife Mary, founded CCI (Castagne Communications, Inc. ) A public relations and advertising company to the paper industry.

At this time he had a photographic exhibit on the mezzanine floor of Grand Central Station, NY sponsored by Kodak. During one of their introductory parties at Paper Week in Montreal, Canada, he won the Fourdrinier Award. He became a Fellow of TAPPI (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry), an honor which previously had never been given to a public relations person.

He loved the work he did, always taking advantage of his trips to paper mills to photograph flowers, birds, nature around him. After retiring and moving to Lakewood, NJ he received many awards from the Ocean County Camera Club. Among his other talents, he enjoyed playing the harmonica (self-taught)

He is survived by his much-loved wife of 44 years, Mary, his sons, Peter, David, Brian his daughter Teri., his grandsons, Paul, Eric, Kit and many dear friends in NY, Montreal, Lakewood. Of his 8 siblings, only Ed and Helen survive. He would wish you all “peace”. Funeral services will be held at the D’Elia Funeral Home Rt70 & Vermont Avenue today, Tuesday March 1st visitationfrom2-4 & 5-7 pm., with a service being held at 5:30pm. Cremation will be private.

Arrangements under the direction of D'Elia Funeral Home, Lakewood, NJ.