John Caso

John was born in Manhattan, New York on Feb 13th, 1939, at Columbus Hospital the only child of John Caso and Rosina (Rose) Caso (nee di Rocco) of Italy.

John graduated from Adelphi University with a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration in 1966. Before graduating from Adelphi, John joined the Armed Forces in February of 1962 and was stationed at Fort Knox, KY. He received an honorable discharge in January of 1964. John received a scholarship to St. John’s University and started on their Varsity Basketball team as a freshman. He was proud to have played under Joe Lapchick and Lou Carnesecca, until during a summer league at Rucker Park in Harlem, he had a career ending knee injury. John graduated from Long Island City High School where he was a three letter man, in baseball, basketball and football. John was All City High School, and Queens varsity, high school scoring champ for three years running.

John taught Advance Placement Science classes for 25 years before retiring in 1994 from Kings Park Middle School in Kings Park, Long Island. He also coached their basketball team to their first undefeated season.

In December, 1995, John met the love of his life Linda. He met her at a meeting of the Tall Club International in New York. It was love at first sight. As John would tell the story, Linda was there under “false pretenses” since she did not meet the minimum height requirements for the club! Right to the end John never lost his witty humor.

Originally from New York, John grew to love his adopted home, Louisville, where he and Linda moved in 2002. John continued to enjoy his love of skeet, trap and target shooting with new Louisville friends. He was the original renaissance man, loving movies especially from the 30’s and 40’s, big band swing but most especially The Drifters and The Platters. He could defeat the best at movie trivia of any genre. He also loved Asian culture (especially dragons) and Marvel superheroes. He was a serious fish hobbyist, and collected rare Discus and Altum Angelfish. John was a collector of conifers. One look at his home garden tells the story. He has many varieties, but especially loved the variety known as weepers. A recent hobby which he enjoyed with his grandson Anthony was building models of World War II fighter planes. He loved Italy and a trip there with Linda in 2007 was the highlight of all his travels.

John, affectionately known as “Johnny “ by his family, leaves behind to mourn his passing his loving wife Linda, daughter Kendra Ainsley Holmes, his grandson and buddy Anthony Holmes, step-son Cicero F. Holmes III, grandson Cicero F. Holmes IV, dear cousins Dolly Paterek (who was his second Mom), Barbara Paterek, Theodore (Ted) and Celeste Paterek, a dear friend and fellow Yankee baseball lover, Joe Dumstorf, life long friends Tom and Sandy Piccininni, a very special friend Anne Liechty (who he often referred to as his “third” wife) and his former wife Nan Caso. He was predeceased by his parents John and Rose Caso and parents-in-law Charles and Juanita Hamilton, his brother-in-law Charles Hamilton Jr.

“When you are lonely and sick of heart, Go to the friends we know and bury your sorrows in doing good deeds. Miss me – but let me go.”

Memorial visitation for John will be held Friday May 15th from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM at

Arch L. Heady and Son Westport Funeral Home

7410 Westport Road

Donations in Lieu of flowers can be made to:

Yew Dell Gardens (a bench in his memory) and/or the Louisville Zoo

Please leave a condolence message for the family at www.archlheadywestport.com