Giving, creative, helpful, determined
Casey was a helper. He regularly gave people rides, shared food, or gave money to those who needed it. He was also an extreme animal lover. “Casey had a beautiful German Shepherd, Angel, that adored him,” his wife Vanessa stated. He worked at two pet supply stores where he tenderly cared for animals and shared his love of them with others. He enjoyed the beach, music, and art, and watching the Patriots.
Casey also loved his green Grand Prix. He had “full conversations with his car, while washing and waxing it,” Vanessa said. He said that speaking kind words to your car was like speaking to flowers. If you did, they lasted longer. That silliness and Casey’s pranks, jokes, and laughter are sorely missed.
After getting his GED, Casey enrolled in Cape Cod Community College to pursue electrical work, following in the footsteps of his late Uncle Tommy. Another career opportunity Casey was considering was as a tattoo artist. His excellence in drawing and desire to help others express themselves through art drew him to pursue the field. However, his addiction escalated, and he was could not achieve that goal.
Casey was married to his high school sweetheart, Vanessa, for three years before he died. Their son, Aiden, was eight months old when Casey passed. He is now 17 and “is a twin to his father,” Vanessa said. After Casey’s death, many friends and coworkers told Vanessa about how he lit up when he talked about Aiden. Casey also left behind his mother, Chrissy, father, Norman, his sister, Tara, and three brothers, Johnny, Peter, and Kenny. Johnny became Aiden’s godfather after Casey’s passing.
According to Vanessa, Casey had a lot of childhood trauma that was never addressed. Starting a family of his own may have triggered the trauma and caused his drug use. His greatest desire was to stay sober and be the best possible father. He told Vanessa, “I’m going to do this for Aiden.”
In active addiction, Casey became unpredictable and angry and lost his spark. There were days when he was fun-loving and sweet. With no warning, he would be irritable and agitated and start arguments. It was a lot to handle. It made Vanessa feel helpless. He and Vanessa separated, and he had to be removed from the hospital after his son’s birth. Toward the end, his illness made him vulnerable. He began to realize he couldn’t fix his addiction alone, and that he needed support and treatment.
Casey passed away just a few days after detoxing from opioid addiction. There were no drugs in his system. He died from cardiac arrest because of the impact of his substance use disorder on his heart.
Vanessa has done a lot of research about substance use disorder and has more empathy for those who suffer with it. She feels that the effects of trauma, depression, mental illness, and personal insecurities contribute to the illness. “They are hiding from their own demons,” Vanessa stated.
Casey’s wife, Vanessa Geller, provided the information for this narrative.
July 31, 1986-October 13, 2006-Age 21
Portrait Artist: Theresa Clower
Narrative Writer: Barbara Francois
