Daniel E. Cassidy Obituary (1940 - 2024)

Winslow - Daniel Edward Cassidy Jr, age 83, passed away on February 29, 2024, surrounded by his loved ones. Dan was born in Portland, Maine on June 28, 1940, to Daniel E. and Odell (Thibodeau) Cassidy. In 1946 the family moved to Winslow to open Cassidy’s Market on Augusta Road. Dan graduated from Winslow High School in 1960. An avid music lover, Dan was an accomplished violin player and played the timpani and snare drums for the high school and traveling bands. He performed all over Maine, sitting as second chair for the violin with the Maine State Orchestra. He enjoyed many of those band trips, including travels to New York City and Nova Scotia, with his future wife, Jean. After graduating, Dan joined the Air Force Reserves, completing his basic training at Lackland Air Force in Texas and was stationed at Dow Air Force Base in Bangor. Dan began his 33-year-long career at the Central Maine Morning Sentinel in 1966, working his way up from the composing room, to selling advertising, to the co-op and special sections’ manager, and then ended his career as the sales manager at the newspaper. His second “job” was a labor of love. For over half a century he was at the wheel of a school bus driving junior and high school ski clubs to area mountains, sports teams to meets, races, and games. In what little spare time he had, he also volunteered for the Winslow Fire Department. An ardent outdoorsman, Dan relished and loved Maine. He indulged his love of the outdoors at the Cassidy farm in Bingham, snowmobiling with his brother Francis and nephews, sledding down Mahoney Hill, taking a dip in the deep hole, fishing, hiking, and mowing acres and acres of land. Dan’s greatest passion was skiing, taking to the slopes across the United States, Canada, and five countries in Europe, tackling over 120 mountains. Ensuring he would always have ski buddies, he had his three children and two grandchildren on skis all by the age of two, passing the joy of skiing along to them. Following his retirement, he found a way to turn that love of nature into a third “job” and wrote articles for four publications. While his column, Ski Tracks focused mostly on skiing, he also wrote about camping, hiking, and biking. He was a member of several writer organizations including the Eastern Ski Writers and the North American Snowsports Journalists Association. He was an active member of the Carrabassett Valley Outdoor Association, and he also served as President of the Ski Museum of Maine. He was a proud Sugarloafer since 1962. To say the man lived to ski would be an understatement. The ultimate family man, Dan always looked forward to friends and family gatherings. He enjoyed many holidays, parties, and travels including annual 4th of July vacations to Cape Cod with close family friends, reunions with family in Lake Tahoe, tours of Europe with extended family, and trips to Gorham to support his grandchildren with their achievements. His retirement also allowed him to fulfill his love of travel when Dan and Jean jumped in the Jeep and toured the country. Dan very much enjoyed and treasured these adventures, and we certainly have the photographs to prove it!! Dan was predeceased by his parents, Daniel E. and Odell, his brothers Lionel and Francis, and his sister Agnes. He is survived by his loving wife of 61 years Jean (Mathieu), his son Sean and his partner Gerry Logue, daughter Kathleen and her partner Beth Alsberg, and daughter Erin and her partner Jonathan Shardlow, his two grandchildren, Andrew and Courtney Rent, as well as several brothers and sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, and of course, Kitty. The family extends a heartfelt gratitude to Gorham House and Compassus Hospice staff for their exceptional kindness, comfort, and care in this difficult time. Also, a special thank you to his close friends Jerry and Betty Lemiuex, John Kiernan, Jean Boudreau, Patty Vashon, Linda Dart Snow, and many others for always being there. A mass of Christian burial will be celebrated on Tuesday, March 12th at 10:00 am at Saint John the Baptist Church, 26 Monument Street, Winslow. A memorial service at the gravesite for family and friends will be held at a later date in the summer. Arrangements are under the care of Gallant Funeral Home, 10 Elm Street, Waterville. An online guestbook may be signed, condolences and memories shared at www.gallantfh.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the WinterKids of Maine at WinterKids Education Foundation, 506 Main Street, Suite 10, Westbrook, ME 04092, https://winterkids.org/, and/or Compassus Hospice at 163 US Route 1, Scarborough, ME 04074, https://www.compassus.com/locations/maine/scarborough-hospice/. In the spirit of Dan’s memory, we will conclude with his Ski Tracks tagline: “Ski and ride safely, use your head, and don’t forget to wear a helmet.” ~Dan Cassidy