Another Brother passes

[Christopher T. Paul- SOC]

I just got an email from the union that Andy Casey and his wife were killed in a motorcycle accident, leaving behind 3 children.

 

I didn't know Andy personally- but I sure knew his work. Maybe someone who knew him better can pick up this thread.

 

My condolences to his family. Makes me re-think my Harley...

 

CP

[Joshua Harrison]

I'm very sorry to hear that. My condolences to the family.

 

Joshua

[David Allen Grove]

This is so sad and so tragic.

 

Andy was one of my instructors at the 94' SOA workshop in PA (along w/Garret and Jerry) He was such a nice fella and a really good instructor.

 

I can't imagine losing both parents. I really feel for their children.

 

If anyone has any photos of Andy and personal stories they would like to share, I think it would be appropriate to put him on the Steadicam Guild memoriam page so folks can remember him.

 

Does anyone know how old he was?

[David Allen Grove]

I found a news story about the accident.

 

http://www.nj.com/news/ledger/jersey/index....xml&coll=1

[WillArnot]

Andy was a good friend of mine. I am utterly speechless. He had a big heart and was a passionate guy. One of the top ops in NY.

How completely tragic. The kids..... The kids...... I can't imagine the loss they must feel.

 

One consoling thought that came from a friend whose wife died.... "Death is the opposite of birth, Not the opposite of life."

Physics dictates that you can't destroy energy.

 

Will

[Alec Jarnagin SOC]

I've know Andy's work for years, but I only got to meet him briefly. We were shooting on stages next to each other and someone introduced us. He was so warm and charming. He offered to lend me his Rickshaw if I ever needed it even though we had just met. I've worked with a lot of wonderful people over the years and to a person they all praise Andy.

 

I feel terrible for the kids.....

[Alan Mehlbrech]

> Viewing services will be on Thursday, August 21 2008 from

> 2-4 pm and again

> from 7-9 pm. Service will be held at Holcombe-Fisher

> Funeral Home, 147 Main

> Street, Flemington NJ.

>

> Funeral Services will be held Friday from 9:30-10:30AM in

> the Flemington

> Presbyterian Church, 10 East Main Street, Flemington NJ

>

> Andy and Kathy will both be cremated.

>

> Directions can be found on line at www.holcombefisher.com

>

> Andy's and Kathy's Obituary can also be found at

> http://www.holcombefisher.com/obits/obit.cfm?obitid=1257

>

> In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to;

>

> The Kathy and Andy Casey Memorial Fund

> c/o Harry Copeland

> Commerce Bank

> One Royal Road

> Flemington NJ 08822

[Niall Chadwick]

My thoughts are with his friends and family at this unhappy time.

[Peter Abraham]

I met Andy a few times at shows, events in NYC. A gentle fellow indeed. My condolences to his family and close friends. The loss to our community is sad, the loss to his family is incalculable.

 

Peter Abraham

[Lawrence Karman]

That is really tragic. My heart goes out to their kids, whose pictures I was told decorated his Steadicam monitor.

[Juan M.Ramos SOC]

I can´t imagine how these kids are felling now but it´s really tragic.I didn´t know Andy but every time that we loss some member of our comunity I fell really sad,All my support to the family and friends,rest in peace Andy.

[Garrett Brown]

Ellen and I were devastated on Saturday to learn of the accident that took the lives of Andy and Kathleen Casey. Something essential was torn right out of existence, but yet is a fraction of the infinite loss to Trevor and Jillian and Brendan and the rest of their family.

 

Our reunion on that afternoon for a few of our '96 Olympic crew became a sudden wake for those dear souls. Everyone there knew Andy and Kathy. He operated our 'GoCam' in Atlanta and was an indomitable rock of confidence and spirit and good sense for all of us throughout that difficult job.

 

I first met Andy when he arrived on roller blades to be my camera assistant on Philadelphia, and a bit later he took my Steadicam workshop and never looked back. I was intensely proud of him, and of his subsequently brilliant career and superb resume.

 

Ellen and I last met Trevor and Jillian years ago when we visited Andy and Kathy at their home in New Jersey.

They have ever since occupied that close and cheerful limbo into which so many of our dear colleagues in this business are stashed between movies.

 

The only two things we all count on are that these friends are safe, wherever they may be; and that we may embrace them soon again on some future location.

 

I can't express the depth of our sorrow that these two fine, gentle souls have been taken from us all. Farewell Andy and Kathy. We will miss you for the rest of our days.

 

Garrett Brown and Ellen Shire

[Lee Kazista]

To say that Andy was a great guy is a huge understatement. He was the best possible guy. Finely tuned at his craft, delicate with the powers that be, and most of all a driving force of humor on the set. Rule #1 on Andy's crew was having a good time. "If we are not having fun, and we can't be with our families, then we are we here?" Don't misunderstand me, he was in it for the art too, but he knew that a job well done did not have to mean torture for the crew.

 

I had the pure pleasure of getting to be the guy that put that sled together a few thousand times or so. Even the miserable jobs with Andy were better than most people 'OK' jobs.

 

 

He did have photos of his kids on the side of his monitor. Each kid would get a couple of days, then Andy would switch them over to the next. If one of them had a big test or assignment due, they would get spot so that he would think of them often.

 

Andy also did something special on set, something that I have never seen someone do so often. He did this so much that at times you wanted to ask him to stop. Andy could not stop talking about his family and how great they all were. Generally when people talk about their kids we tend to tune them out, but Andy had a little fire in his eye when he spoke of them that always kept you locked in.

 

The entire Casey family traveled to Africa last year to 'help' young children with AIDS. How many people can say that?

 

People like to use the phrase "result of the environment". Go and spend a some time with the Casey kids and you will agree with that statement. They are hands down the sweetest, most loving, intelligent, well-mannered kids with a sense of humor that you will ever meet.

 

I have two kids of my own, and I pray that they grow up to be like any of the Casey kids.

 

Tomorrow is the wake for them both, Friday is the funeral. It is going to be an impossible day for all of us, but I am pretty certain that his children, their dignity, and Andy and Kathy's impression on the world will rule the day.

 

If anyone would like to use this thread as a posting spot for notes to the kids, please feel free, I will print them and bring them over to the house. Or if anyone has any photos, possibly from an old Steadicam class? If you prefer not make your sentiments public then please feel free to email me directly with "Casey Kids" in the subject line. I won't read, I will just pass it on.

 

Kind Regards Everyone,

 

Lee Kazista

[Lee Kazista]

 

For those of you who never had the pleasure of meeting either or them, I have attached a photo of Kathy and Andy Casey.

 

Lee