Troy - Peter J. Kasius, 96, died peacefully on Saturday, November 6, 2021, at Eddy Memorial Geriatric Center.
Born in Salt Lake City, UT, in 1925 he was son of the late Peter Kasius and Kathryn Volker Kasius and husband of the late Judith Scheer Kasius. Survivors include his children, Karen (Carlos Valle) Kasius, Rhinebeck, NY and Andrew S. (Elizabeth) Kasius, Troy, NY; his grandchildren Alicia, Peter, and Adam Valle, and Lily and Reed Kasius; and nephew, Peter Kasius. He was predeceased by his brothers, Richard and John Kasius.
Peter’s family and friends will remember and miss his warmth, patience, quirky humor, devotion to family, endless capacity to adapt, and positive contribution to those around him.
From Utah, Peter’s family moved east, living first in St. Louis, MO during the years of the Great Depression and eventually to the east coast, settling in Georgetown, Washington DC, and eventually to Long Island, NY. As a teen, he was a camp counselor at Lantern Hill Camp in Connecticut. He ran track in high school. Peter served in the Navy as a Pharmacists Mate aboard an LST in the Pacific Ocean during World War II. He was nostalgic later in life for his years in the Navy, but never had any desire to go on a cruise.
Upon returning from the war, he earned his BA in History from Tufts University in Boston and a Masters in Social Work from Columbia University in NY. While working in NYC, he met his future wife Judy Scheer and in the early 1960s they married. Work took them to Pennsylvania as Executive Director of the Northampton County Children's Bureau and eventually to Albany, NY where he worked for the NYS Dept of Social Services as a specialist on adoption and foster care policy for the State. He always had a devotion to children and as a little league and Babe Ruth baseball coach, his core skill was using compassion and empathy to bring out the best in his teams.
He kept himself in great condition well into life, often biking or walking to work even into his late 60’s and early 70’s and spending many evenings swimming untold laps at the town pool. He became a speed walker, perfecting his stride and eventually competing in NYS senior games.
In the early 2000s, Peter moved to Rhinebeck NY where he enjoyed the arts; poetry, music, reading and theatre. He was a supporter of the Rhinebeck Community Theatre and took his grandchildren to many performances. He spent his final decade at the Eddy in Troy, NY where he made a significant contribution to the community. He sponsored musical events, became a well-known in-house movie critic, took on the self-titled position of poet in residence and formed a poetry group, and hosted many family visits and meals. Peter's family is grateful for the care he received while a resident at the Eddy.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, December 11, 2021 at 11AM at the Bryce Funeral Home, Inc. 276 Pawling Avenue Troy, NY 12180. Face covering and social distancing are required if not vaccinated.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in memory of Peter J. Kasius to The Community Hospice (Gift Processing Center) 310 S. Manning Blvd,.Albany, NY 12208.
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