es m ly Ho ter ts 00 uar en 6,0 Q esid n 1 red R ha ve ty e t eli un or D o M PS ex C US Ess To
August 2015
ON TOP
This Issue MILESTONE
Casazza’s look back on 70 years together PAGE 3 THE MIND
Memory loss not an aging side effect PAGE 6 ACTIVITY
Keep your heart going strong! PAGE 8
Several Residents from Moses Ludington Adult Home visited Mount Defiance July 10. They enjoyed a lovely lunch while taking in the panoramic views of Ticonderoga. Pictured are Kathy Barber, Residential Care Aide with Dorothy Gabler, John Rasmussen, Bill Crossman, Deborah Gregware and Shirley Crowe. Photo provided
Senior centers focus on serving broad interest, expanding access By Christopher Pratt
christopher@suncommunitynews.com
TICONDEROGA — Plans are in the works for a new ramp at the Ticonderoga Senior Center, which could help the facility open its doors to more members of the senior community. Town officials anticipate moving forward with the mobility-enhancing amenity later this year at the senior facility, which is located in the basement of the Ticonderoga Armory, 123 Champlain Ave. “It’s going to be a big, big help,” said Jacqueline Hurlburt, a regular participant in senior center programming. While Hurlburt, 62, said she has not experienced trouble accessing the building, other community members have struggled to gain access. “The ramp is going to be good for the ones that have to use electric (wheelchairs),” Hurlburt said. Ann Dolback, activities director at the senior center, said the ramp is expected to be installed by the current entrance to the senior center. In addition, she said a door by the ramp is slated for an update, Dolback said. CONTINUED ON PAGE 10
A group of seniors play cards at the Ticonderoga senior center in July 2015. The facility is located in the basement of the armory on Champlain Avenue. Photo by Christopher Pratt
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Family key to longevity, says local centenarian By Pete DeMola
pete@suncommunitynews.com
Audrey “Audey” Dickerson celebrated her 102st birthday on July 1, 2015 at the Champlain Valley Senior Community in Willsboro. Photo by Pete DeMola
WILLSBORO — Audrey “Audey” Dickerson leaned back in her chair and smiled as the sounds of digital camera shutters clicked all around her. Within minutes, the roomful of well-wishers had shot dozens of photos. Video, too. Back in 1913, when Dickerson was born, she would have had to sit patiently through a painstaking process for just one shot. But now, dozens of pictures were uploaded to Facebook and zipped around to her extended family before she even had a chance to blow out the candles on her cupcakes. “I feel no different than I did at 50,” said Dickerson, the Willsboro resident who was born four months after US President Woodrow Wilson took office (and turned 50 just months before the death of another, John F. Kennedy.) Dickerson lives at the Champlain Valley Senior Community, the converted schoolhouse in Willsboro where she attended classes nearly a century ago. At 102, she’s the oldest resident and the oldest alumni. Class of 1933. She had the highest average one year, she said, nodding approvingly. “There isn’t anybody living who can prove her wrong,” said Sue Swires, a relative. Born in Reber, Audrey was the second oldest of 9. She helped raise her siblings. “When you have a family of 11, you can’t sit and read a lot,” she recalled. The little ones took baths in a dishpan in birth order. “She had to go after all the grubby boys,” joked Swires. Following her high school graduation, Dickerson got a job working for General Electric. During WWII, she did a year on the assembly line, making equipment for the wartime effort. Once the war was over, she moved to Schenectady and spent 35 years in the accounting department before retiring and lived in Scotia until 1997, when she decided to return to Essex County. What’s the secret to longevity? “I didn’t get married, for one thing,” said the centenarian. “Evidently, I didn’t have any kids.” How about advice? “Enjoy yourself,” she said. “Enjoy your family.” Everyone beamed.
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Senior Life • Summer 2015 | 3
Indian Lake couple celebrates 70 years By Ryan Edwards
ryan@suncommunitynews.com
INDIAN LAKE — The average life expectancy of humans at birth is about 70 years, which means Frank and Fran Casazza of Indian Lake have been married for a lifetime and counting. The couple celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, July 1, and are as enamored with each other as the day they met, when they were only teenagers. The Casazzas met on a autumn day in 1942 at a high school in Patterson New Jersey, where they grew up. Frank was a senior and Fran a junior when the two were introduced by mutual friends. They hit it off immediately, Frank said. “I was sorry when it was time to go to class, and I will always remember the way she walked away,” he said. “I was beguiled by her, and I knew then that I had to see her again, which I did every chance I got.” The two quickly became an item, and they didn’t care who knew it. “As silly as this sounds it was the style for young men to wear bow ties when we were in high school,” Frank said. “If a girl and a boy were going together it was the fad for them to wear the same style and color tie. It soon became known throughout the entire school of about 1200 students that we were going together since we often wore those ties.” After high school, however, the couple were separated by an all-too-common hindrance of the era — World War II. Before graduation, Frank enrolled in an Army Air Corps cadet program, which allowed him to finish his senior year before he was sworn in. He passed all his exams and was accepted, and by July 1, 1943 Frank shipped off to basic
Frank and Fran Casazza at their wedding ceremony, July 1, 1945.
Frank and Fran Casazza, an Indian Lake couple who recently celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Photo courtesy of Dr. Daniel Way of the Indian Lake Medican Center. training, where Fran wrote him every day. In Aug. 1944, Frank was commissioned a second lieutenant and got his wings as an Army Air Force Navigator. Frank was given a short leave after graduation, during which time he and Fran became engaged. He was stationed with the eighth AF in England in the 446th Bombardment Group and flew ten combat missions over Germany in a B 24. When the war ended in Europe, Frank returned to the states to be married. Frank was so “pumped” to make Fran his wife that he navigated all through the night while everyone else on board was asleep — even the pilot. Frank used the bomb sight to make corrections in auto-pilot while he slept. “I knew I wouldn’t be able to sleep anyway,” Frank recalled. “So why not keep going?” See CASAZZA, page 11
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Historical society seeks WWII veteran stories TICONDEROGA — The Ticonderoga Historical Society has issued a call for personal stories from World War II veterans and civilians who worked in wartime industries. The oral histories will become part of the permanent collection and be showcased at “When the Lights Go On Again,” an all-day commemoration of the end of World War II that will take place Saturday, Aug. 29, at the Hancock house. The event will feature exhibits, programs, music and military vehicles in addition to other activities. “It is no secret that the number of veterans from this era is dwindling,” notes Bill Dolback, THS President. “To not record their wartime narratives would be a great loss to historians, but more importantly, to our community as a whole. Their experiences are compelling and deserve to be saved.” “The other part of this narrative is that of the individuals who worked in vital industries during the war,” says Dolback. “Republic Steel, International Paper and National Lead are just a few of the companies whose workers we would like to hear from.” In addition to the oral history project, the Historical Society is seeking names of military veterans, regardless of their service years, to be maintained as part of an ongoing “honor roll” of those who served in the armed forces. “We are asking people to forward names, branch of service and approximate dates, if known. This is an opportunity to commemorate anyone who served, from the American Revolution through today,” said Dolback. To request an oral history interview, or an honor roll form, contact the Ticonderoga Historical Society at 585-7868 or via email at tihistory@brigepoint1.com. The Ticonderoga Historical Society advances the preservation and interpretation of history through collections, programs and community outreach.
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Nutrition and aging go hand-in-hand
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utrition is important for people of all ages, but it’s especially important for men and women over the age of 50, who can dramatically improve their quality of life by eating a well-balanced diet filled with vitamins and nutrients. Though that may seem like common sense, research has shown that men and women in this age group, who are often referred to as “Baby Boomers,” are not necessarily as healthy as they may seem. While the baby boomer generation, which is generally regarded as those people born between 1946 and 1964, boasts longer life expectancies than any generation that came before them, some of that can likely be chalked up to advancements in medical care, including a booming pharmaceutical industry that seemingly has an antidote to every ailment. But a 2013 study from researchers at the West Virginia University School of Medicine found that baby boomers are less healthy than the generation that immediately preceded them, tending to be more likely to have higher levels of hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol. While that news might be sobering, it’s never too late for men and women over 50 to start eating healthier diets, which can reduce their risk of a wide range of ailments, including heart disease, stroke and osteoporosis. The following are a few ways men and women over 50 can alter their diets so their bodies are getting what they need to live long and healthy lives well into their golden years. As is always the case, men and women should discuss any potential changes to their diets with their physicians to ensure the changes will be both effective and healthy. •Balance your diet. Kids hear of the benefits of a balanced diet seemingly from the moment they enter a classroom for the first time, but many adults fail to heed that basic advice as they get further and further away from kindergarten. When changing your diet, be sure to include plenty of protein and carbohydrates. Protein maintains and rebuilds muscles, which is especially important for aging men and women who might find themselves unable to keep up with the physical demands of everyday life as well as they used to. Including ample low-
fat protein, which can be found in fish, eggs and low-fat dairy among other foods, will aid in muscle recovery, benefitting aging athletes as well as those men and women over 50 who recently started exercising as a means to regaining their physical fitness. A diet lacking in sufficient protein can contribute to muscle deterioration, arthritis and even organ failure, so it’s important for men and women to prioritize including protein in their diets. Carbohydrates are also an important part of a balanced diet, as they are a great source of energy that can help men and women stay active well past the age of 50. Carbohydrates found in fruits, grains and vegetables are the most beneficial, as these contain valuable vitamins, minerals and nutrients. •Don’t denounce dairy. Dairy is a great source of calcium, which promotes strong bones and teeth. Men and women over the age of 50 want their bones to be as strong as possible because aging is one of the strongest risk factors for osteoporosis, a potentially debilitating medical condition in which loss of tissue causes bones to become brittle and fragile. Vitamin D is necessary to effectively absorb calcium, and vitamin D can be found in certain dairy products, including pasture-raised eggs and grass-fed cow’s milk, and can be generated when men and women get enough sunlight. Other healthy sources of vitamin D include salmon, light tuna packed in oil, sardines, and sun-grown mushrooms. •Cut back on sodium intake. Cutting back on sodium intake can be very beneficial, especially for men and women over the age of 50, who are at greater risk of diabetes, hypertension and chronic kidney disease. But cutting back on sodium intake takes more than just throwing the salt shaker away. Processed foods, soups, canned goods, salad dressings, condiments such as mustard and ketchup, and breakfast cereals are just a few of the many products that may contain alarming amounts of sodium. That’s important to note, as excess sodium increases blood pressure by holding excess fluid in the body. That excess fluid puts an added burden on the heart, potentially increasing a person’s risk of stroke, heart failure, osteoporosis, cancer, and kidney disease. The problem with cutting back on sodium is that salt is so often relied on to make foods taste better, and many people find salt-free foods bland. But the rewards of reducing sodium intake are so significant that it’s worth making the adjustment,especially for men and women over the age of 50. No one is too old or too young to embrace a nutritious diet. But men and women over the age of 50 are in a unique position to vastly improve their quality of life by adopting a low-sodium diet that is rich in vitamins and minerals.
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Memory loss is not an automatic side effect of aging
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taying socially active after 50 can benefit the brain and even reduce a person’s risk of dementia. No one, regardless of age, is immune to random bouts of memory loss. While misplaced car keys or forgetting items on your grocery list are nothing to get worked up over, many men and women over 50 do start to worry about memory lapses, especially when they start to occur with more frequency than they might have just a few years ago. But while memory loss might be quickly associated with aging, increased forgetfulness is not an inevitable side effect of getting older, a fact that those at or approaching retirement age should find comforting. When considering the relationship between memory and aging, it’s important that men and women recognize the distinction between memory lapses and dementia, as the two are not one and the same. As a person ages, his or her hippocampus, the region of the brain involved in the formation and retrieval of memories, often deteriorates. This can affect how long it takes to learn and recall information. But just because this process is slower does not mean it’s a warning sign of dementia, which is the loss of certain mental functions, including memory. Though taking longer to recall information can be frustrating, many people still retain their ability to recall information. In addition, while dementia brought on by conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease is untreatable, there are things men and women can do to strengthen their memories and reduce their momentary lapses in memory. •Start playing games. Games that test the mind have long been believed to benefit the brain, though some remain skeptical about the true impact of brain games. However, a University of Iowa study funded by the National Institute on Aging found that brain games may in fact pay numerous and long-term dividends. In the study, 681 healthy volunteers over the age of 40 were divided into four groups. One group played computerized crossword puzzles, and three other groups played a brain training video game from Posit Science designed specifically to enhance the speed and accuracy of visual processing. The volunteers showed less decline in visual processing as well as in other tests that measured concentration, memory and the ability to shift quickly between tasks, and the benefits from the training games lasted as long as seven years af-
Staying socially active after 50 can benefit the brain and even reduce a person’s risk of dementia. ter training. Brain games are now more accessible than ever before, as players can access such games on their smartphones, tablets, ereaders, and computers. And inaddition to being effective, the games also provide entertainment value. •Alter your routine. Many working professionals recognize that each day tends to have its mundane moments. The brain can grow accustomed to these moments, which tend to be a routine part of the day. But altering your daily routine can jar the brain awake, forcing it to focus during those times that had become mundane but now present new challenges. Something as simple as alternating driving routes to work from day to day or preparing some new, yet healthy, breakfast each morning can help the brain stay alert and sharp. •Become a social butterfly. Maintaining a social life as you age is a great way to keep in touch with friends and family. But there’s another reason to continue to be socially engaged. A 2008 study spearheaded by the clinical trials administrative director at Southern California Kaiser Permanente Medical
Group and published in the American Journal of Public Health found that older women who maintained large social networks were 26 percent less likely to develop dementia than women with smaller social networks. In addition, those who had daily contact with friends and family cut their risk of dementia by nearly half. The study also noted that regular social interaction can delay or possibly even prevent cognitive impairment. •Continue your career. While the idea of retiring poolside and watching the world go by might seem nice, such a scenario is not necessarily good for your brain. Numerous studies have shown the benefits that staying engaged in professional activities can have on brain health. The brain does not thrive if it’s sitting on the sideline. Staying active in your career will continue to provide the challenges your brain needs to stay sharp and avoid memory loss and struggles with concentration. Men and women who want to leave office life behind can branch out on their own and work as consultants or put their years of experience to use by teaching at a nearby university or secondary school. But heading off for the hammock once you have hung up your briefcase can prove troublesome for your brain.
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Keep your heart running strong into your golden years
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eart health should be a concern for people of all ages, but especially so for men and women over 50. That’s because, according to the American Heart Association, even men and women who are free of cardiovascular disease at age 50 are at a significant lifetime risk of developing the disease. But heart disease does not have to be an accepted byproduct of aging. For example, a 2014 study published in the AHA journal Circulation found that maintaining or increasing physical activity after age 65 can improve the heart’s well-being and lower risk of heart attack. In addition to increasing physical activity as they age, older men and women who understand heart disease and learn to recognize its symptoms have a greater chance of minimizing its affects and lowering their risk of having a heart attack. What are the symptoms of heart disease? Heart disease is a blanket term used to describe a host of conditions, so symptoms vary depending on each individual condition. The following are some of the more widely known conditions and their symptoms: •Hypertension: Also known as high blood pressure, hypertension is a largely symptomless form of heart disease. The AHA notes that the idea that hypertension produces symptoms such as difficulty sleeping, facial flushing, nervousness, and sweating is a misconception. Symptoms typically do not alert men and women to the presence of hypertension, highlighting the emphasis men and women should place on routine visits to the doctor’s office, where their blood pressure can be taken. •Heart attack: The symptoms of a heart attack are different than the symptoms of heart disease that may lead to heart attack. The former can be found by visiting www.heart.org. Signs that you may be heading toward a heart attack include undue fatigue, palpitations (the sensation that your heart is skipping a beat or beating too rapidly), dyspnea (difficulty or labored breathing), chest pain or discomfort from increased activity. •Arrhythmia: Arrhythmia means your heartbeat is irregular, and men and women often mistakenly believe arrhythmia only afflicts those who already have been diagnosed with heart disease or have had a heart attack. But arrhythmia can affect even those men and women who have healthy hearts and no history of cardiovascular disease. Symptoms of ar-
rhythmia can vary greatly, from a single premature beat to a series of premature beats that occur in rapid succession. Arrhythmia that lasts long enough to affect heart function may include symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, fatigue, dizziness, lightheadedness, shortness of breath, and chest pain.
How can I protect my heart? Heart healthy habits take some effort, but men and women can protect their hearts regardless of their ages. •Get sufficient exercise. At least 30 minutes of exercise per day can protect against disease. •Quit smoking. Smoking increases your risk for a host of ailments, including heart disease. Quitting is a great way to start getting your heart and other parts of your body back on track. •Include heart-healthy foods in your diet. A diet
that is rich in fruits and vegetables and low in cholesterol, salt and saturated fat promotes heart health. •Don’t drink alcohol to excess. Like smoking, drinking alcohol to excess can lead to a host of problems, such as high blood pressure, arrhythmia and high cholesterol, each of which increases your risk of heart disease. •Lose weight. Being overweight or obese is a major risk factor for heart disease. If you have already started to exercise daily and eat a more hearthealthy diet, then you’re on your way to losing weight. Consult your physician if diet and exercise don’t seem to be helping you to shed pounds. Heart disease kills millions of people across the globe each year, many of whom are over 50. But men and women who learn about heart disease and how to reduce their risk stand a far greater chance of fighting the disease.
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Members of the Schroon Lake Senior Citizens Club recently held their annual picnic. This year the event was held at Scaroon Manor. The seniors had a BBQ lunch, played bingo, bocce ball and took boat rides on Schroon Lake.
Senior centers
Continued from page 1 Although the new ramp is a major development in improving access to the senior facility, community members with mobility impairments continue to face obstacles that their non-disabled peers do not. A bus that many individuals rely on to transport them to the armory building and to other locations throughout the community is not wheelchair accessible on some days, Dolback said. Dolback, who has been coordinating the program for about 12 years, said the ramp amenity is just another piece of the puzzle needed to meet the needs of a growing senior population --- a rapid growth in the number of persons belonging to the demographic of people age 65 and older began in 2011, when the first Baby Boomers turned 65. On a recent summer afternoon, Dolback shared how the senior community has grown over the past decade. She said she started her affiliation with the group about 12 years ago, when it used to meet in a room at the Ticonderoga Community Building. “We had 25 members at that time, now we have 170,” Dolback said.
A point of pride for Dolback, who worked as a nurse prior to retirement, is that the senior facility serves as a resource for a Ann Dolback, activites director at the Ticonderoga Senior Center, discusses a plan to broad spectrum of servic- bring a ramp to the facility in July 2015. Photo by Christopher Pratt es. Dolback, who receives a small stipend for her Rochester Medical Center, specific health benefits work, serves as a go-to person for all things senior- of social interaction in older adults include potenrelated in Ticonderoga. tially reduced risk for cardiovascular problems and She distributes information so her fellow seniors reduced risk for mental health issues. can get signed up to receive nutritious meals, which Trips are also organized to the farmers’ market in help many stay healthy. The aging process can place Elizabethtown and other destinations. “That’s faburestrictions on a person’s ability to cook. “It’s doubt- lous,” Ticonderoga resident Marianne Murdock, 64, ful that they would get one nutritious meal a day,” said of the transportation aspects. Dolback said of some program participants who are In the fall, Dolback said she’s hoping to work with connected with a meals on wheels program. Fort Ticonderoga officials to put together an outing The Ticonderoga senior facility is also a gateway on the Carillon boat. to a wide range of recreational programming. It holds exercise courses to help people increase their Schroon Lake has vibrant senior program range of motion and organizes outings like field Ellie Searles, who handles media outreach for the trips to Awkesasne Casino. Many community members, including Hurlburt, Schroon Lake Senior Citizens Club, said the group look forward to the casino trip. While it’s unlike- focuses on planning a variety of events, which cater ly that attendees will return back with more than to a diverse range of interests. Searles said the group, whose headquarters is at money they came with, Hurlburt said it’s the social aspect of seeing old friends and making new ones 1108 U.S. Route 9 in Schroon Lake, has approxithat makes it a trip worth taking. “You meet other mately 140 members.”They take a lot of trips,” she said. people,” Hurlburt said. One small group, known as the “Gourment Those positive feelings can translate into real-long term health benefits. According to the University of Groupies,” plans outings to area restaurants. Searles said a senior meals program has been a staple of the community for decades. The work of the program has provided nutritious meals to generations of seniors throughout the Essex County town. “The volunteerism in Schroon Lake is absolutely phenomenal,” Searles said. This fall, the Schroon Lake club will hold a 40th anniversary celebration. According to Searles the event, which will include a representative from Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office and many other dignitaries. It has been planned from 4-7 p.m., Oct. 20.
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Casazza also inducted into NYS Senate Veterans Hall of Fame
Casazza
ryan@suncommunitynews.com
He even convinced his crew to forgo an overnight stay in Greenland when they stopped to refuel so he could see his beloved as soon as he possibly could. The Casazza’s were married on July 1, 1945, when Frank was on a 30-day leave before leaving for training to transition from the European theater to the Pacific, where he was on assignment to bomb Japan. “Fran made all the arrangements for the wedding, in every detail,” Frank recalled. “All I did was walk up to the altar.” The Casazzas spent their honeymoon at Glenbernie on Lake George. Now that they were husband and wife, Fran could accompany Frank at all of his assigned bases while he prepared to ship out for Japan. Luckily for them both, however, Frank’s second overseas deployment never came. America dropped the atomic bomb on Japan, and on Aug. 14, 1945, the war was over. The Casazzas then began what they call a threemonth honeymoon, while Frank was waiting to be discharged from active duty. “All I had to do was call in every day and the rest of the day was free time,” Frank recalled. “We were on a base in San Marcos, Texas which was near San Antonio, so we went there often, had picnics in Brackenridge Park, ate ice cold watermelon from the push carts in the park, went to dances at the officer’s club, often ate dinner there as well, we swam in the crystal clear waters of the San Marcos river — we were having a ball.” The Casazzas returned to New Jersey, where Frank attended Newark College of Engineering under the GI bill. They had their first child, Karen, on Aug. 30, 1946, and moved from Fran’s parents’ house into their own apartment and began their lives as a young family. They had another child, Michael, on Sept. 1, 1959, and have since become grandparents to Debbie, Sean and Kristyn. As Frank worked his way up the corporate ladder at Universal Manufacturing Corporation, the family bought a summer camp on Indian Lake in 1968, which they winterized and converted into their primary residence in 1987. Frank and Fran designed their new home themselves, and Frank did most of the construction from a scale model they built together. On April 15 Frank turned 90 and Fran turned 89 on April 20, but age has not slowed them down, as both remain active members of the Indian Lake community. After 70 years together, the only thing the couple would change about their lives is to be closer to their children, who live in Florida and California. After celebrating this milestone, the couple look forward to the coming years together. “We feel so blessed,” they agreed.
INDIAN LAKE — 90-year-old Indian Lake resident and World War II veteran Frank Casazza was inducted into the New York State Senate 2015 Veterans Hall of Fame on Tuesday, May 19, at a ceremony in the Legislative Office Building at the state capitol. At the ceremony, Casazza was one of a number of veterans inducted into the Hall of Fame, honored personally by Sen. Hugh T. Farley, a former Indian Lake resident and Korean War veteran. It all started when Vonnie Liddle, the town’s event coordinator, contacted Farley to arrange a trip to Albany for local kids. During their conversation, Farley asked Liddle if she could recommend a veteran to honor at the ceremony. She offered Farley American Legion Post 1392 Commander Ken Cannan’s phone number, who in turn nominated Casazza for the honor. “He seemed like the right guy because he’s a very talented man and he is just willing to help anywhere he can, any time he can,” Cannan said. “He’s not a man to sit in the corner.” The nomination was accepted, and from there Liddle, Cannan, Casazza and a number of legionnaires and their wives traveled together to Albany to attend the ceremony and have lunch with the senators. “We enjoyed it very much,” Liddle said. “I think it was a great ceremony and it certainly honored a well-deserving veteran of the area. Frank is a wonderful man.” Casazza, while honored, was modest about his nomination. “The experience is very elating—I’m flattered that it all happened,” he said in an interview. “When they told me I said, ‘What did I do?’” He offered a bit of wisdom befitting of this time of year, when fallen soldiers are honored across the country by those who are left to mourn them. “I feel good that I’m being recognized and all, but I think that if some of this recognition could go toward the guys who didn’t make it, that they could feel good too, wherever they are,” he said.
‘A misty day in ‘45’ Casazza was born in Paterson, New Jersey in 1925. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps while still in high school through an Air Cadet program that allowed him to graduate before he’d be taken off to basic training—eventually earning his wings in 1944 when he was 19 years old. In Decemeber of that same year, Casazza left the Boston Harbor aboard the Ile DeFrance—a luxury liner converted to a troop-carrier transport ship— bound for Bungay, England. From there he flew to Germany on a number of combat missions, where he and his crew dropped
bombs on the enemy from a B-24 Heavy Bomber until the war in Europe ended in May of 1945. Back in the States, Casazza married his high school sweetheart, Fran—with whom he has been married nearly 70 years—on a 30-day leave before he was scheduled to return to war and bomb Japan. When his orders came in to fly to Japan, Casazza was awaiting the arrival of his bride at a base in San Marcos, Texas. Because Fran had yet to appear, he begged his superiors to delay his departure, afraid, yet again, that he may never see her again. “I’m not trying to get out of it,” he recalled saying. “Just delay me one rotation.” While his superiors wouldn’t budge, just before he was to set course for Japan, Americans dropped atomic bombs on Japan, effectively freezing all orders and ending the war. “I was relieved,” he said, “in more ways than one.” He and Fran enjoyed what he called a “threemonth-honeymoon” in Texas before he was discharged from active duty. Returning home, Casazza enrolled in the Newark College of Engineering on the G.I. Bill, and remained in the reserves of what became the United States Air Force, retiring with the rank of Major in 1985.
‘Home again’ The Casazza’s bought a camp in Indian Lake in 1968, and when Frank retired from Universal Manufacturing Corporation in 1987 they moved to the Adirondacks permanently, in an addition to the camp they built and designed from a scale model. Casazza’s photograph and a small biography is on display for two weeks at the veteran’s hall of fame at the Legislature Building. When the display is taken down, the poster will be put onto a plaque and sent to Casazza as a reminder of the ceremony and his service to the United States. Casazza still belongs to the 446th Bomb Group Association and is a member of the Military Officers’ Association of America.
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By Ryan Edwards
12 | Summer 2015 • Senior Life
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