Bill Casey, Ossining Teacher and Coach, Dies at 46

OSSINING, NY — William Casey, a former teacher and coach in Ossining, died Friday. He was 46. Casey, a Pleasantville High School graduate, is survived by his wife and 4-year-old twins.

Funeral arrangements have not yet been announced.

Casey, who taught and coached in the district since 2004, was diagnosed with cancer in 2014. He had major surgery over that summer and returned to work, to find that teachers at Roosevelt and Claremont schools had hand-made him a 30-panel quilt.

Some of the messages on the panels included “Keep calm and fight on,” “We always have your back” and “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up,” a famous Babe Ruth quote.

Teacher Julia Karam, who came up with the idea of making a quilt, said at the time that if anyone deserved a random act of kindness, it was Mr. Casey for remaining strong and positive during his battle with cancer, finding time to be kind, caring and supportive of those around him.

The quilt was presented in 2015, setting an example for students of 'paying it forward,' the theme for that year's Capstone Project at Roosevelt. Mr. Casey is a “devoted teacher, coach, father and husband,” she said.

PHOTO: Bill Casey with a quilt made for him in 2015 by fellow teachers/ Ossining school district via Patch