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John Cassil
John Frank Cassil, whose service in the U.S. military spanned three wars, never tired of
swapping stories with fellow veterans, family and church members.
"At the coffee hours, he was ... a central figure," said the Rev. Ed Howell,
pastor of Santa Rosa's Church of the Incarnation, where Cassil was active. "He
was very congenial and always able to talk about things that interested other
people."
Cassil, 87, died Sunday at his Santa Rosa home following complications from heart and
kidney failure.
He was born Dec. 10, 1915, in Edgerton, Ohio, where as an 8-year-old he worked after
school in his father's blacksmith shop. When the family moved to Kendallville, Ind.,
Cassil's adolescent enterprises included farming and newspaper deliveries.
"John grew tomatoes and popcorn, sold them to neighbors and made enough money to buy
his own school clothes," said Lynn Cassil, his wife of 19 years. "He worked hard
all his life. Nobody gave John Cassil anything -- other than morals and integrity and
pride."
An ambitious student, Cassil was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy but released because
he was colorblind. He studied government at George Washington University, earning his
tuition as a purchasing clerk with the Federal Reserve Board.
Cassil aspired to a career in diplomacy until the U.S. Army drafted him in 1941. Despite
his training as an Army Air Corps aviation cadet at Camp Lee, Va., Cassil's
colorblindness barred him from flying. The Army commissioned him as an officer in 1942,
assigning Cassil to World War II training bases before he served in Italy.
In his early years as a father, Cassil sold insurance for New York Life Insurance Co.
before the Air Force recalled him in 1951. A "ground pounder" who coordinated
base operations, Cassil also served in the Korean and Vietnam wars, retiring in 1971.
The military had introduced Cassil to Novato's Hamilton Air Force Base, and his love
of the area drew his family to Sonoma County nearly 32 years ago.
An enthusiast for skiing, tennis, crosswords and classical music, Cassil sang in the
Church of the Incarnation choir for 25 years. Another passion involved fellow members of
the Redwood Empire's Retired Officers Association: these self-described "Bums in
the Park" met twice monthly at Spring Lake Park or local restaurants to exchange war
memories.
In addition to his wife, Cassil is survived by four children and three stepchildren:
Sylvia Cassil of Los Alamos, N.M.; Virginia and Carolyn Cassil of Sutherlin, Ore.; John T.
Cassil and wife Donna of North Carolina; Deana Dale of Santa Rosa; Kathleen Miller and
husband Chuck of Santa Rosa; and Matthew Dale and wife Susie of Phoenix. He also leaves
seven grandchildren and sister Almira Noble and her husband, Garland, of Glendale.
A memorial service will be held 3 p.m. today at the Church of the Incarnation, 550
Mendocino Ave. Memorials may be made to the Retired Officers Scholarship Fund, Memorial
Hospice of Santa Rosa or the Church of the Incarnation. Cassil's ashes will be
scattered at sea through the Neptune Society.