Obituary of Richard Anthony Casagrande

A life that lasts eighty-nine years may seem lengthy to some, but for us, and the many whose life he touched, it is not long enough. The world was made better by him. Richard Anthony Casagrande, Corine’s husband for 62 years, passed away on June 27, 2022, surrounded by family. On January 27, 1933, in Brooklyn, NY, Richard, son of the late Louis and Christine Casagrande and brother to the late Louis Casagrande, was born. He graduated from Grover Cleveland High School and then attended Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute in Fall, 1951. Two years later, Rich was drafted to the Army where he was stationed and served in Germany. After two years, he returned to Brooklyn Polytechnic where he graduated in 1956 with a bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, and then began his engineering career at Western Union Telegraph Company. In 1959, on a blind date, Richard met Corine Grello, the love of his life. Rich proposed after only two months of dating, and then the young couple married on a beautiful spring day on April 23, 1960, at Ascension Church in Elmhurst, NY. They resided in the City Line section of Brooklyn where they stayed until they moved into their newly built home in Wantagh, NY. Over the years, their home has been continuously filled with lots of children, grandchildren, and friends; an abundance of love, food, laughter, and some passionate conversation (we do not call it arguing). Richard’s very full life included four children: Elise (Anthony), Laura (Michael), Richard (Maria) and John (Terryanne); fourteen grandchildren: Michael, Christian (Danielle), Alexis (Garrett), Jack, Lauren, Bryn, Sophia, James, Giovana, Grace, Angelina, Gabe, Richard, Bella and four great-grandchildren: Samuel, Benjamin, John, and Eliana. Nothing made Rich happier than spending time with his family. As a young family, Rich and Corine took their children on yearly vacations, and then in 1994 they began the “Villa Roma” tradition. Those priceless weeks, and other family vacations, are forever engraved in their children’s and grandchildren’s memories and leave a lasting legacy of the importance of family. Helping others was essential to Richard, so he happily spent his retirement- years volunteering his time and contributing to the charities close to his heart. As a driver for the Friends in Safe Hands Organization (FISH), Richard drove “the older people” to their doctor’s appointments. He and Corine voluntarily worked at the Interfaith Nutrition Network, Camp Good News, St. Vincent de Paul, and the Bethpage Village Restoration. Richard also helped seniors with their taxes at local area libraries. He was a blessing to so many. Simply, we will forever miss him. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Richard's name to either St. Jude Children's Research Hospital or Heifer International.