Daniel Willis Casey
1943-2021
Amherst, Nova Scotia and Dieppe, New
Brunswick
On Tuesday, April 6, 2021,
Dan Casey died with his loving and
devoted wife, Nicole Boudreau, by his side, taking care of him till
the end — as she always did. He died as he had lived:
Squeezing every last drop of connection and love out of us all. He
hated to go and would’ve stayed forever if he
could.
In addition to Nicole, Dan is survived
by his children Erin Casey (Henk van Leeuwen), Matt Casey (Tracie
MacKinnon), Mark Casey (Priscilla Shelley), Daniel Boudreau
(Émilie Desjardins), and Michel Boudreau. He was Grampa to
Marius and Bea, Zac, Exton and Elara, and most recently baby Lucie.
His little brother Bill Casey (Rosemary) was his best friend. He was
loved by his many cousins, nieces, nephews, and too many friends to
list. Maggie Dog might just miss Grampa most of all.
Dan was predeceased by his parents DA
Casey and Audrey Moss, his older brother Brian Casey, and his
father’s second wife Michaela Casey.
As a father to Erin, Matt, and Mark, Dan
was gentle and tolerant, but ready with advice and small kicks in the
backside as required. And when Daniel and Michel joined the family, he
was every bit as devoted and generous to them. Despite being the
self-proclaimed Minister in Charge of Being Pushed Over, he was
especially kind and loving when the kids were most vulnerable and in
need. You never doubted that he loved you and believed in you, even
when you didn’t believe in yourself. He loved his
grandchildren to distraction, thrilling to each new little person and
counting his lucky stars he was still around to meet
them.
Dan was funny, even though his jokes
were usually terrible and frequently inappropriate. He was a great
dancer, loved a good party and could practically make friends in his
sleep, almost always keeping them for a lifetime. He committed more
anonymous acts of kindness than we will likely ever discover. And if
you knew Dan at all, you were familiar with (if not occasionally worn
out by) his many enthusiasms, including boats, cars, puffins,
genealogy, icebergs (he once stood on one, the fool), photography, and
whales. His zest for American politics knew no bounds, and he was an
accomplished artist, carving and painting beautiful works of art for
all his children and grandchildren.
A born schemer, Dan never did retire. He
lived to make deals, his business acumen was known far and wide, and
he enjoyed many long and healthy business relationships and
partnerships. Like his father and brothers, Dan was a real car guy.
After graduating from UNB in 1964, he worked for his father at Casey
Enterprises in Amherst, then ran his father’s Mercury
dealership in New Glasgow, partnered with big brother Brian to sell
Mazdas, and went on to deal in Nissans, Fords, Toyotas, and more.
Forty-five years ago, he took over the day-to-day machinations at
Casey Realty, with little brother Bill quietly partnering. He never
left. The two of them took a few commercial “side
trips” along the way — some of them more successful
than others — including the Capitol Sales furniture store,
Casey Manufacturing mobile home factory, and Elm Tree Tavern. Moss
Jewellers was in the family for over 100 years, and you’d be
hard pressed to find a single home in Amherst without a Moss clock,
watch, or engagement ring in it.
A larger-than-life figure in Amherst,
Dan was a born leader who dispensed wise counsel to colleagues,
competitors, and renters. And he didn’t discriminate: From
government facilities to doctors’ offices to dodgy
pizza parlours to pawn shops, he treated all his clients with respect
and good humour. Deals were often sealed with a handshake and nothing
more. In his heyday, Downtown Dan attended every town council meeting
and was active in the Amherst and Area Industrial Commission, Chamber
of Commerce, Downtown Development, and Mainstreet Program, and chaired
several committees to build the YMCA. He was determined to save
downtown Amherst from the big box stores of a certain cross-border
neighbour, even creating the beloved and adorable Mr. People
mascot.
In his personal life, Dan
couldn’t have been more true blue. He and Nicole loved and
took care of each other for almost three decades. They built a
beautiful home together in Dieppe, where Dan could let his
fastidiousness about boats, yards, and houses flourish unchecked. He
was known for the perfection of his lawn, the spotlessness of his
garage, and the gleam of his fibreglass hull. He planned his and
Nicole’s home right down to the last electrical outlet,
famously ordering for his poolside deck exotic nails that ended up
costing more in duty than the nails
themselves.
Dan and Nicole loved to travel, visiting
Machu Picchu, the Galapagos Islands, Egypt, China, the British Virgin
Islands, and Tahiti. Dan’s iceberg-hunting trips to
Newfoundland with the boys were legendary, and he relished his visits
with Russ Greene in Boston, especially when the US primaries were
involved. The Shore, especially Tidnish, was his happy place since
boyhood.
Dan was tough, using up his whole nine
lives and then some. Through cancer, heart disease, and multiple
complicated illnesses he kept us on our toes, prevailing over and
over. He attributed his incredible ability to bounce back to Oreos,
Ritz crackers, Cheez Whiz, and cigarettes (just a few!). We thought
he’d never die.
Finally, Dan loved nice clothes and
liked to look sharp. You might say he was predeceased by the
double-breasted suit with brass buttons, which he continued stubbornly
to wear long after its best-before date. And after all, it turned out
to be a classic, just like he was.
If you’re wondering where Dan
is now, remember that he was most himself on a boat. Picture him
banging around on Shediac Bay, Baie Verte, or Bar Harbour. He has one
hand on the wheel and the other is holding a lobster roll.
He’s listening to Paul Simon’s Kodachrome
— loud — and there’s a rum and Coke in
the cupholder. The cooler is packed, the cushions are warm, and
it’s a beautiful day for a boat ride.
Nicole and the family would like to
thank the medical professionals at the Dr. Georges-L.-Dumont
University Hospital Centre for giving their VIP guest such excellent
care over the past 20 years. Special thanks also go to Andrea Rushton
for holding the fort at Casey Realty with caring calm — you
truly are Dan’s right-hand woman.
The best way to honour Dan would be to
commit an act of kindness for someone who needs it. We also encourage
you to make a donation to the YMCA of Cumberland, your local food
bank, or the charity of your choice.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the
Jones Family Funeral Centre, 70 Church
Street, Amherst, NS (902-667-8777). Public visitation will
be held once the Atlantic Bubble has been opened, followed by an
Invitation Only Funeral Service due to COVID-19
Restrictions.
Sharing of memories and condolences may
be sent to the family by visiting Dan’s online memorial at
www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca or through the Jones Family Funeral
Centre Facebook Page.
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Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Daniel Willis Casey 19432021..
furlong jones funeral and cremation services
Death notice for the town of: Amherst, Province: Nova Scotia