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It was an honor to have a business relationship
as well as a profound friendship with Andy Casey.
He was a husband and father first, yet he was
always a consummate professional on the set.
He understood the politics of this crazy business,
and addressed it with a light heart and a sense of
humor.
Any time Andy turned down a job it was because
he thought it might not be fun. He would say
"life's too short to be miserable on a job". He was
right. Rest in peace Andy. We will always
remember you.
-Jill Friedman
(Andy Casey's Agent)
as well as a profound friendship with Andy Casey.
He was a husband and father first, yet he was
always a consummate professional on the set.
He understood the politics of this crazy business,
and addressed it with a light heart and a sense of
humor.
Any time Andy turned down a job it was because
he thought it might not be fun. He would say
"life's too short to be miserable on a job". He was
right. Rest in peace Andy. We will always
remember you.
-Jill Friedman
(Andy Casey's Agent)
Andy Casey by Garrett Brown
On Saturday, August 16th, 2008, My wife Ellen and I were devastated to learn of the
motorcycle accident that took the lives of Andy and Kathleen Casey. Something essential
was torn right out of us, but yet is a fraction of the infinite loss to their children, Trevor and
Jillian and Brendan, and the rest of their close family.
Our afternoon reunion for a few of our 1996 Olympic crew became a sudden wake for
those dear souls. Everyone there knew Andy and Kathy. He operated our 'GoCam' in
Atlanta and was an indomitable rock of confidence and good sense for all of us throughout
that difficult job.
I first met Andy when he arrived on roller blades to be my camera assistant on
Philadelphia, and soon after he took my Steadicam workshop and never looked back. I
was intensely proud of Andy Casey, and of his brilliant subsequent career and superb
resume.
Ellen and I last saw Andy and Kathy during a visit to their home in northern New Jersey.
Ever since, as happens in this business, they had occupied that close and cheerful limbo
into which our dear colleagues are 'stashed' between movies. The only two things we all
count on are that these friends are safe, wherever they may be; and that we may embrace
them soon again on some future location.
I can't express the depth of our sorrow that these two fine, gentle souls have been taken
from us all. Farewell Andy and Kathy. We will miss you for the rest of our days.
Garrett Brown and Ellen Shire
On behalf of their children, Brendan, Jillian and Trevor, please give all you can to The
Kathy and Andy Casey Memorial Fund, c/o Harry Copeland, Commerce Bank, One Royal
Road, Flemington, NJ 08822.
Andy Casey and Family, Eulogy by Lee Kazista
To say that Andy Casey was a great guy is a huge understatement. He was the best
possible guy. Finely tuned at his craft, delicate with the powers that be, and most of all, a
driving force of humor on the set. Rule number one on Andy's crew was having a good
time. "If we are not having fun, and we can't be with our families, then why are we here?"
Don't misunderstand me, he was in it for the art too, but he knew that a job well done did
not have to mean torture for the crew.
I had the pure pleasure of getting to be the guy that put his sled together a few thousand
times or so. Even the miserable jobs with Andy were better than most people's 'OK' jobs.
He was a guy that worked his way through the ranks, starting as a Loader and labored
away, learning every step of the journey, improving everyday.
Beyond his operating, Andy also did something special on set, something that I have
never seen someone do so often. He did this so much that at times you wanted to ask him
to stop. Andy could not stop talking about his family and how great they all were. Generally
when people talk about their kids we tend to tune them out on set, but Andy had a little fire
in his eye when he spoke of them that always kept you locked in. His confidence as an
Operator bled into his storytelling of his family and their upbringing.
Andy had photos of his kids on the side of his monitor. He would only have a picture of one
child at a time. He felt that if all three were in the same photo, that people would not really
pay attention. If he instead 'introduced' people to them one at a time, they would get to
know them, and ask about each by name. Each kid would get a couple of days, then Andy
would switch them. This would generally cause crew and actors alike to ask who the
photo is of and who had been there last. If one of them had a big test or assignment due,
they would get the featured spot so that he would think of them often.
Last summer, when many of us were vacationing or relaxing at home, the entire Casey
family traveled to Africa last year to 'help' young children with AIDS. How many people can
say that?
People like to use the phrase "result of the environment". Within minutes of meeting any of
Andy's children, you will agree. They are hands down the sweetest, most loving, intelligent,
well-mannered kids with a sense of humor that you will ever meet.
Many people admired Andy for his abilities on a set; anyone who really knew him admired
him for his abilities as a parent. I have two kids of my own, and I pray that they grow up to
be like any of the Casey kids.
The world is certainly a little less 'Steadi' today, and not framed quite as well as it could.
Andy left a big impression on those us that knew him, taught lessons that we will use
everyday in our craft. But more importantly he was a great parent who loved his family and
always kept his priorities clear, managing to perfectly balance not only his rig, but his work
AND his life.
On Saturday, August 16th, 2008, My wife Ellen and I were devastated to learn of the
motorcycle accident that took the lives of Andy and Kathleen Casey. Something essential
was torn right out of us, but yet is a fraction of the infinite loss to their children, Trevor and
Jillian and Brendan, and the rest of their close family.
Our afternoon reunion for a few of our 1996 Olympic crew became a sudden wake for
those dear souls. Everyone there knew Andy and Kathy. He operated our 'GoCam' in
Atlanta and was an indomitable rock of confidence and good sense for all of us throughout
that difficult job.
I first met Andy when he arrived on roller blades to be my camera assistant on
Philadelphia, and soon after he took my Steadicam workshop and never looked back. I
was intensely proud of Andy Casey, and of his brilliant subsequent career and superb
resume.
Ellen and I last saw Andy and Kathy during a visit to their home in northern New Jersey.
Ever since, as happens in this business, they had occupied that close and cheerful limbo
into which our dear colleagues are 'stashed' between movies. The only two things we all
count on are that these friends are safe, wherever they may be; and that we may embrace
them soon again on some future location.
I can't express the depth of our sorrow that these two fine, gentle souls have been taken
from us all. Farewell Andy and Kathy. We will miss you for the rest of our days.
Garrett Brown and Ellen Shire
On behalf of their children, Brendan, Jillian and Trevor, please give all you can to The
Kathy and Andy Casey Memorial Fund, c/o Harry Copeland, Commerce Bank, One Royal
Road, Flemington, NJ 08822.
Andy Casey and Family, Eulogy by Lee Kazista
To say that Andy Casey was a great guy is a huge understatement. He was the best
possible guy. Finely tuned at his craft, delicate with the powers that be, and most of all, a
driving force of humor on the set. Rule number one on Andy's crew was having a good
time. "If we are not having fun, and we can't be with our families, then why are we here?"
Don't misunderstand me, he was in it for the art too, but he knew that a job well done did
not have to mean torture for the crew.
I had the pure pleasure of getting to be the guy that put his sled together a few thousand
times or so. Even the miserable jobs with Andy were better than most people's 'OK' jobs.
He was a guy that worked his way through the ranks, starting as a Loader and labored
away, learning every step of the journey, improving everyday.
Beyond his operating, Andy also did something special on set, something that I have
never seen someone do so often. He did this so much that at times you wanted to ask him
to stop. Andy could not stop talking about his family and how great they all were. Generally
when people talk about their kids we tend to tune them out on set, but Andy had a little fire
in his eye when he spoke of them that always kept you locked in. His confidence as an
Operator bled into his storytelling of his family and their upbringing.
Andy had photos of his kids on the side of his monitor. He would only have a picture of one
child at a time. He felt that if all three were in the same photo, that people would not really
pay attention. If he instead 'introduced' people to them one at a time, they would get to
know them, and ask about each by name. Each kid would get a couple of days, then Andy
would switch them. This would generally cause crew and actors alike to ask who the
photo is of and who had been there last. If one of them had a big test or assignment due,
they would get the featured spot so that he would think of them often.
Last summer, when many of us were vacationing or relaxing at home, the entire Casey
family traveled to Africa last year to 'help' young children with AIDS. How many people can
say that?
People like to use the phrase "result of the environment". Within minutes of meeting any of
Andy's children, you will agree. They are hands down the sweetest, most loving, intelligent,
well-mannered kids with a sense of humor that you will ever meet.
Many people admired Andy for his abilities on a set; anyone who really knew him admired
him for his abilities as a parent. I have two kids of my own, and I pray that they grow up to
be like any of the Casey kids.
The world is certainly a little less 'Steadi' today, and not framed quite as well as it could.
Andy left a big impression on those us that knew him, taught lessons that we will use
everyday in our craft. But more importantly he was a great parent who loved his family and
always kept his priorities clear, managing to perfectly balance not only his rig, but his work
AND his life.