Amenia mourns the loss of Kevin Cassone

AMENIA  — If ever there was an infectious smile, it was the smile of Kevin Cassone. Cassone, 56, passed away suddenly at the home he shared with his longtime partner, Amenia Councilwoman Gretchen Hitselberger, on Sunday, Nov. 6.

The 22-year-long relationship led the two to purchase a house in Amenia in 2002 after having met at their workplace, Columbia University, in New York City. Hitselberger said she knew right away what attracted her to her future mate.

“It was his personality,” she said. “He had an ability to make things happen as if it was magic. He would say something and you would say ‘No way anybody on the face of this planet could make that happen,’ and he would.”

Cassone not only helped make things happen, he helped out once they did. He volunteered on countless organizations and committees, including the Zoning Board of Appeals, the Ethics Committee, the Enhancement Committee, the Garden Club of Amenia and the Lions Club. 

His smiling face could be found at most of the town’s celebrations and ceremonies: Decorating Day, the Christmas tree lighting, Veterans Day, Memorial Day and so much more. He was also a regular at Town Board meetings.

“He didn’t attend every one, but he certainly watched every one. And he would offer critiques of my performance when I got home,” Hitselberger said fondly. “If you think I had to defend things to my constituents, you should have heard me defending them to him.”

But it wasn’t that Cassone was contentious — it was that he was committed.

“He really and truly cared about this town,” Hitselberger said. “Kevin liked talking to people. He always liked to make things better, and he really saw the beauty of this town and wanted to bring that out.”

When asked what Cassone’s favorite aspect of living in Amenia was, the answer came swiftly.

“All the people,” said Hitselberger, even giving an example of once when Cassone learned a man was living in his truck outside of Cumberland Farms. He then offered the man a camper the pair owned, that they weren’t using, to live in free of charge. “Kevin was like, ‘That just won’t do,’ so he gave him a place to live.”

Another time, the couple offered a family a vacant apartment in their rear house, after learning the family had lost its home in foreclosure.

‘“If he saw someone who needed it, Kevin would give the shirt off his back, even if he didn’t have a shirt himself,” said Hitselberger. “It led to a few interesting discussions, but he was just like that. He would step up because he cared. He really, truly cared.”

And those who knew Cassone could feel that sense of genuine interest and empathy. With his love of gardening so prominent in his life, and his outward caring for all who surrounded him so evident, many have expressed their sorrow at the loss. 

The Kildonan School is honoring Cassone by renaming the school garden. There will be a ceremony in the spring to make the new garden name official.