James M. Casey

James M. Casey, 77, teacher, mentor, mountaineer, and fitness enthusiast, lost his battle with cancer on November 4th at his home in Chesterbrook with his life partner, Betty, by his side. Beloved G-Pop, stepfather, brother, uncle, and partner to his loving ‘cupcake’, Jim was born in Bryn Mawr to Margaret E. and Edward F. Casey.  He attended St. Thomas of Villanova Elementary School and graduated from Monsignor Bonner High School in 1965.  He earned his B.A. Degree from St. Bernard College, Alabama in 1969.  Jim served in the U.S. Army from 1969 to 1971 and taught at both Girard College, Philadelphia and the Devereux School in Glenmore, PA.  He also served as construction foreman for the Center City commuter tunnel and worked as water treatment plant operator for the City of Coatesville.

Before his retirement in 2019, he spent 30 years as a teacher/mentor of juveniles at St. Gabriel’s Hall in Audubon, PA.  These boys were convicted of a crime and sent to ‘St. Gabe’s’ as an alternative to an adult prison.  Described by a colleague as ‘selfless, humble and dedicated to the cause’, Mr. Casey helped guide them in a new direction and considered his time there a most personally fulfilling experience. 

Best known for his sparkling smile, calming presence, and wry sense of humor, Jim was a voracious reader.  His love for books and reading allowed him to converse on every subject imaginable.  He loved recommending titles and gave books as presents to family members on every holiday and birthday. 

A ‘man for all seasons’, Jim found joy, inspiration and spiritual nurturing in nature, whether in the woods, the mountains, the beach or sitting on the deck listening to the birds or spotting an occasional fox or family of deer.  He was an avid mountain climber and spent many summer and winter vacations climbing in the Western Canadian Rockies and cross-skiing in both Banff and Jasper National Parks.  Most recently, he found his climbing challenges in the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and traveled with his partner, Betty, to the Adirondacks and Lake Placid, NY.  At home, in Pennsylvania, he spent endless hours hiking in Valley Forge Park, and the surrounding areas, but most of all, he enjoyed taking his grandsons, Myles, Heath, and Maxwell hiking in the Susquehanna Valley, Wolf Hollow and many other parks in the area.

Jim’s love of running took him to myriad trail races and half marathons where he met hundreds of like-minded fellow runners with whom he shared many tips and advice gleaned from actual study of the sport through endless books and magazines.  He ran the Ugly Mudder. Smith’s Challenge, and Delaware x-country races to name a few and accumulated dozens of medals, t-shirts and other memorabilia.

Fitness to Jim Casey was akin to a religion.  “It’s not something I have to do, it’s something I get to do!”  To say he loved exercising would be a huge understatement, and he instilled this love in at least one of his three grandson, Myles, with whom he shared hours of discussion on how to execute kettle bell swings, dead lifts, pull-ups and squats. 

Admired and loved by all who knew him, Jim Casey will be sorely missed by his devoted Stepson, Matthew Furlong and wife, Heather, his stepson Jeffrey Furlong, his adoring grandchildren, Myles, Heath and Maxwell, his loving partner, Betty Rippel, his two brothers, John Casey (Mollie) and Tom Casey (Bunny) and a host of loving nieces and nephews.

A private family Memorial will be held at the Duportail House in Chesterbook on November 23rd.   In the spring of 2025, a Celebration of Life will take place at the Audubon Bird Sanctuary in Audubon, PA.

Donations in Jim Casey’s name can be made to the American Cancer Society.  Tributes can be posted on the Logan-Videon website.