On Thursday September 10, 2021, at 3:04 AM, Fresnel Casimir, affectionally known as “Papa” took his final breath at Jackson Memorial Hospital in North Miami Beach, Florida. During his ninety-three years of life, Fresnel embraced life with the overall sense that tomorrow is not promised and that little joys of everyday life are so precious that we must enjoy them in that moment are they are lost forever.
Fresnel Casimir was born in St Michel de L’Attalaye, Haiti on April 25, 1928, to Andre (FN Casimir and Carmen Nicolas. Fresnel was the youngest of eight siblings, who are all predeceased. His siblings include Emmanuel Legros, Joseph Legros, Irene Hermantin Henrys, Anna Nicolas Clermont, Pierre Hermantin, Andre Hermantin, and Giselle Casimir. Unfortunately, at birth Fresnel lost both his twin sister Giselle and his mother Carmen Nicolas. His father also passed soon after.
Fresnel was initially placed in an orphanage and later came to live with his brothers and sisters at different times during his life. In the early 1960s, Fresnel Casimir met Marie Casimir, who was also orphaned as a child, and they married. Their union gave birth to Francois Gregory Casimir and Valentina Ketlie Casimir. Prior to coming to the States, Fresnel drove and operated heavy equipment in Puerto Prince, Haiti.
Marie and Fresnel made their way from their impoverished and politically unstable Haiti to Brooklyn, New York in the mid-1960s. Initially, like most immigrants, the entire family could not all leave together, and the children join them later.
Fresnel Casimir initially worked as an auto mechanic, then later as cab driver. While Marie worked in garment factories throughout New York City. Eventually the entire family came together in their home in Park Slope, Brooklyn.
Fresnel Casimir while working multiple jobs, attended commercial driving school in New York City and later drove commercial trucks across the country. Fresnel did not enjoy the solitary life of being on the road and later took a job as New York City School bus driver from which he later retired.
Although appearing mundane and uninteresting, Fresnel thrived as a New York City school bus driver. He took great pride in being responsible for getting kids to schools and taking them on field trips. Even more importantly, the interactions he shared daily with the kids and teachers at various public schools’ and yeshivas drew out his undaunted passion to enjoy life’s moments.
In his Brooklyn neighborhood of Park Slope to his retirement years in Miami Beach, Florida, Fresnel was well known for being the man who lit up the room and took over a party. Fresnel’s greetings made you feel you were the most missed person in the world, his quick jokes and funny stories made the hours go by in a flash. Fresnel always left you craving more. Even more his farewell moment summed up the moments you just spent with him and that always made you believe in “Peace & Love!”
Fresnel Casimir’s wife of sixty years, Marie Casimir predeceased him in June 2020. Fresnel Casimir is survived by his children, Andrise, Valentina, Francois and Gary, his grandchildren, nieces, nephews and an extended family of friends that shared in his wisdom, wonderful manner and love of life.
The family will be celebrating Fresnel’s life with Visitation, Ceremony and Internment on Friday September 17, 2021, from 11:00 am to 1:00 PM to at Forest Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens located at 2401 Davie Road, Davie Florida.
Fresnel’s final instructions “Stop your crying and Get Me Drink”
In lieu of flowers the family ask that you donate to Fresnel’s Caretaker fund at https://gofund.me/32b5142f..
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.forestlawnsouth.com for the Casimir family.
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