Posted on 10/05/2012 1:43:12 PM PDT by LouD
Donald Jeffrey Casser (“DJ” to his friends and Jeff within the family) succumbed to lung cancer and its related complications on January 13 at Columbia-St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee. He is preceded in death by his father, Donald G. Casser, and is survived by his mother, Carolyn Casser (Wauwatosa); sister, Linda Casser Locke (Philadelphia), brother-in-law, Keith E. Locke, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Jeff was born on May 8, 1955, in New Hampshire while his father served as a pilot with the US Navy and spent the majority of his life in Wauwatosa and Milwaukee. From his earliest years, he expressed an independent spirit and creative approach to his life. After graduation from Wauwatosa East High School, he attended and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Finance. He pursued a career in the commodities exchange arena, holding a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade and working as an active trader there for approximately eight years. Upon leaving Chicago and after a brief tenure as a desk Trader for Baird in Milwaukee, Jeff decided to strike out on his own entirely with the founding of his Milwaukee-based company, Black Diamond Racing. His creativity and focus upon perfection resulted in highly crafted, beautifully finished, patent-protected (his own patent), carbon fiber-derived boards and cones, designed to minimize electronic interference and vibration for very high end stereo components. His primary customers were international stereo aficionados who appreciated both the performance and beauty of his products.
Born into a sail boat racing family and active in the Milwaukee Yacht Club for years, Jeff served as crew and skipper for many, many races, including top three finishes in the annual Chicago-Mackinac Race. At Penn, Jeff earned a letter in crew, plying the waters of the Schuylkill River. He exhibited his free spirit in many ways, including go-cart racing, motorcycles, and active membership in the Patriot Guard Riders, supporting fallen American soldiers and their families. Known for his attention to detail and demand for perfection in his projects, he has left many reminders of his excellent craftsmanship in hand-made model ships, exquisite furniture pieces, and in ornate carpentry work in his family home. His products from Black Diamond Racing will serve as his legacy for beauty, craftsmanship, product performance, and unswerving attention to detail.
Jeff and his family wish to expressly thank the nurses, doctors, and support staff at Columbia-St. Mary’s Hospital in Milwaukee for the care, compassion, and professionalism so consistently and considerately shared with Jeff and his family. While we are deeply sorry to lose Jeff in the prime of life, his battle with cancer was a very difficult one that he fought bravely, and we are confident that he is now at peace.
DJ was the guy who told me about Free Republic back in 2000. He and I worked together in the 2000 demonstrations in Milwaukee and Madison in support of President Bush during the Florida recount and the constitutional challenge to his presidency. Likewise, the 2003 Support Our Troops Rallies in Milwaukee. Besides FR, he was also involved with the Patriot Guard.
We stayed in contact, although not as frequently as we should have, he worked with me during the 2008 and 2010 elections. When I couldn’t reach him during the recall elections in June, I assumed that he was just too busy. Today, upon trying to reach him again, I got an email from his colleagues at work passing along the sad news.
He was a good conservative, a good FReeper, and a good man.
Prayers up
Prayers from the Levy family.
AFTR, would you mind pinging the Wisconsin list.
Please accept my condolences. Prayers for his family and friends.
BTTT
Prayers for his family from this Pittsburgh FReeper.
Lost my Dad to the same thing 4 yrs ago, and it’s awful...
As for The Crow - he’s with the good guys now, looking out for the rest of us.
God Bless them all....
LB
Bless you, and may the Lord comfort the family and friends of such an outstanding citizen, talented creator and loyal Freeper.
Leni
RIP The Crow
Thanks, Leni.
DJ and I traded emails periodically, and meant to get together for a beer, but our busy schedules got in our way. Looking back, I wish I’d tried harder. He was a great guy, and he’ll be missed.
RIP The Crow
Jeff's posting history can be seen here.
RIP to The Crow
RIP.
Prayers up for his family.
RIP. Prayers for his family and loved ones.
Impressive in life...prayers for The Crow and his loved ones.
May GOD rest his soul and comfort his family and friends.
LLS
Sorry to hear it.
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