F.S.C. Brother Daniel F. Casey

Brother Daniel F. Casey, F.S.C., died peacefully on Wednesday, July 30th , at the Saint Antoine Residence in North Smithfield, RI. Brother Daniel was 74 years old and just short of his 56th anniversary as a Brother of the Christian Schools. Brother Daniel was born to John F. and Mary Casey on June 2, 1934 in Providence, RI. His education began in Providence at the Cleary School and continued at St. Raphael’s Academy in Pawtucket. His formal education then extended to Catholic University of America (Washington, DC: A.B. in the Classics, 1957); Manhattan College (New York City: M.A. in the Classics, 1964; M.A. in Theology, 1969); Boston College (Newton, MA: Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies). He travelled from being the fifth grade teacher at Good Shepherd School in the Bronx section of New York City to being the President/Vice- Chancellor of Bethlehem University in the Palestinian section of Israel. Brother’s most noteworthy and direct contributions to the Diocese of Providence started when he became the principal of St. Raphael’s in 1976. He served four years in that position; and, after a six year term as a principal in the Brooklyn Diocese, he returned to Providence as an educational consultant to the diocese. Brother Daniel became the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Providence in 1986, and he continued in this position until 1996. In 1996, Daniel took up residence at Christian Brothers’ Center in Narragansett, RI, and became the auxiliary provincial of the Brothers of the Christian Schools of the Long Island-New England Province. Four years later, Daniel became the provincial. After his four-year term as provincial, Daniel left Providence and left the United States, resuming his missionary career, this time as the President/Vice-Chancellor of Bethlehem University. Bethlehem University was founded by Pope Paul VI and entrusted to the Brothers of the Christian Schools to meet the higher educational needs of the Arab community, both Catholic and Muslim. Brother Daniel was the President/Vice-Chancellor of Bethlehem University from 2005 until, dealing with the fact of his illness, he wrote to the Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and tendered his resignation in March of this year. In that letter of resignation, Brother Daniel aligned himself completely with the spirit of the Founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, St. John Baptist De La Salle, when he used the Founder’s words to depict his attitude of holy resignation: “I adore in all things the will of God in my regard.” Daniel entered the Brothers of the Christian Schools in Barrytown, New York, in September of 1952, and pronounced his first vows there. After the usual period of temporary vows, Brother Daniel made his final vows in August of 1959. Upon graduation from Catholic University and after his one-year stay at Good Shepherd School, Daniel moved on, from 1958 to 1964, to Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School (Brooklyn, NY) and St. Mary’s High School (Waltham, MA), teaching Latin. In July of 1964, Brother Daniel began a long and varied career as a school administrator. He became the principal of St. Mary’s. After a year for graduate studies at Manhattan College, Brother Daniel began another part of his career; this time as a missionary. He was assigned as a teacher to St. Joseph School in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. In 1971, he became the headmaster of the school and, simultaneously, the auxiliary provincial for that area. Brother Daniel spent the 1975 school year pursuing post-masters studies at Boston College. He then returned to his alma mater, St. Raphael’s Academy, as teacher, then as principal. From 1980 until 1986, he served as principal of Bishop Loughlin Memorial High School. At the end of his second term as principal, he returned to Providence as an educational consultant and became the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Providence, a position he held from 1987 to 1996. In 1996, he began a period of direct service to the Brothers themselves when he was named auxiliary provincial for the Brothers of the Long Island – New England Province. Subsequently, Daniel was elected provincial of the Long Island-New England Province. In addition to the Brothers of the Christian Schools, Daniel is mourned and survived by his sister Barbara Casey; his two brothers: Edward and John. Daniel was predeceased by his brothers Robert and Richard. Brother Daniel’s wake is being held at Christian Brothers’ Center, 635 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI on Sunday, August 3rd from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Brother’s Mass of Christian Resurrection will be Monday August 4th at 10 AM at Providence’s Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, 30 Fenner Street, Providence, RI. Burial will follow at Christian Brothers’ Cemetery, 635 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI. In lieu of flowers, donations in Brother Daniel’s memory may be made to the Brothers of the Christian Schools, 635 Ocean Road, Narragansett, RI.