John "Jack" Joseph Casey V

Jack was a model of loving kindness and gentleness, with a warrior spirit. Throughout his battle with brain cancer, 12 years of chemo, radiation, trials, hospitalizations, seizures, and brain operations, he retained his thoughtfulness and good humor. A warrior fighting such a battle needs an army, so Jack recruited one by virtue of his pure heart, humility, dedication to friends, his endearing ever-present smile, his honesty and integrity, and his passions in life and sports. With the love of family and friends at his side, he fought cancer for so long and so hard that it was beyond heartening and inspirational. It was awe inspiring.

Jack attended East Catholic High School and Senior year was co-captain of both the lacrosse team and the back-to-back state championship soccer team. He was an honor student and received numerous academic and athletic awards including the Michael Donnelly “Falcon’s Cry” Scholarship and the Northwest Conference All Academic. He graduated Cum Laude from Assumption College, was on the Dean’s list every year, and was inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta Sociology Honors Society and the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. Jack held various positions, including Public Safety officer at Westfarms Mall, Genius Administrator for Apple Inc., RHAM High Head JV Lacrosse Coach, Assistant Varsity Coach, and IT Technician for Cromwell Public Schools, before having to forgo employment due to treatments and chronic pain. His passions in life beyond family and friends were of course the Boston Celtics, New York Giants, Boston Red Sox, Hartford Whalers and Manchester United. He also loved Batman, LEGO, and Taekwondo, in which he achieved his 2nd Poom Black Belt.

Jack was predeceased by his little brother and best friend, Connor (9), his paternal grandparents, Jack and Elizabeth (Betty) Casey, his maternal grandfather, Manuel Coelho, and his uncles, David Casey and Roy Coelho.

Left behind to ponder Jack’s incredible determination and strength in eternal sorrow are his loving partner, Charlotte Adams Brooks; his mom and dad, Jack and Gina Casey of Wethersfield; his grandmother, Suzette Coelho, his aunts and uncles: Marie and Bill DeMilia, Tim and Franca Casey, Mike and MaryEllen Casey, Liz Casey and Bruce Dalkowski, Joyce Lacrimosa, John Coelho and Ellen Ronsivalli, RoseMarie Coelho; his cousins: Billy and Nerissa DeMilia (Lyla and Faye), Chris and Ali DeMilia (Rose), Tim and Jen Casey (Nora and James), Kelly Casey, Griffin Casey and Jill Wieczorek, Brenden Casey and Georgia Salvatore, Brittney and AJ Carone, Courtney Casey, Stacey Coelho and Ali Sassani (Scarlett), Scott and Katie Coelho (Sam and Julie); his in-laws, Douglas Brooks and Susan Pullman Brooks, Lesley Adams and David Newman, Maddy and Matt Holmes and a large contingent of very close friends.

The family is eternally grateful to those who supported Jack: Dr. W. Curry and the surgery team at Mass General, Dr. Wen and his team at Dana Farber, Radiation and chemo teams at Mass General, St. Francis, Hartford, Brigham’s Hospitals, Dr. Tanya Bilchik, headache specialist, Nurse Andrew and the Hartford HealthCare Hospice team; Coach Mazzulla, Kara Keena, and the whole Boston Celtics organization; Amy’s Angels and the Fiondella family; the spectacular men and women of the West Hartford Police Department and the State Capitol Police Department; many friends and neighbors as well as anonymous donors. Every day there are stories of evil in the news, but the Caseys can attest to the fact that the world is filled with a legion of beautiful, caring, and compassionate people.

Jack’s family will receive relatives and friends on Friday, July 11, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the D’Esopo Funeral Chapel, 277 Folly Brook Boulevard, Wethersfield. A Memorial Service celebrating Jack’s life will take place at 3:00 p.m. following the visitation. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be directed to amysangels.org. To share a memory of Jack, please visit www.desopofuneralchapel.com