NORTH ADAMS, Mass. —  Frank M. Casuscelli III, beloved father and grandfather and friend, passed away on Tuesday, April 21, 2026 after a short illness. He was born on March 28, 1951 in North Adams, MA to the late Frank M. Casuscelli, Jr. and Julia C. Nassif Casuscelli. Until recent years, Frank was a lifelong resident of North Adams living an authentic, larger-than-life persona creating a world of love, compassion and an abundant number of memories that are shared by many who knew him.

Frank graduated in 1969 from Drury High School, where he excelled in baseball, gymnastics and football (quarterback, running back, place kicker). The point-after kick by #10 was often the difference in a win or loss for the Blue Devils. His education continued at Berkshire Community College where he was co-captain of the college basketball team, 1970 – 1971. In 1973 Frank graduated from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst with a B.S. in Physical Education and a decade later with a Masters degree in Education from North Adams State College.

To most people, he was simply “Cas” or “Coach” as he spent his life in service to teaching beginning in 1974. For 34 years in the North Adams Public School system, he was a Physical Education teacher at Drury High School, Greylock Elementary School where he produced annual gymnastic shows, Silvio Conti Middle School, and Brayton Elementary School where he finished his career in education.

After school hours in the fall, he could be found on the gridiron as an assistant coach for Drury High school football and as a head coach for McCann Tech where he inspired greatness in his players and a passion for winning, especially in a David vs Goliath moment, when the smaller McCann bested Drury High School, 20-0, on its home field, October 20, 1984. In years to come, he did not step away from the sports scene entirely; he became a familiar radio voice doing the color commentary for the Drury Blue Devils basketball teams.

When he wasn’t in the gym teaching or on the football field coaching, he was playing. Summer evenings at Noel Field pitching in various men’s softball leagues, and winter nights at the Y.M.C.A. as a point guard in men’s basketball. The sounds in the off-season could be heard as the ten-pins fell on the bowling lanes and in later years perfecting his swing on the local golf courses with his favorite par…the 19th hole. The good times were not limited to sports. Whenever the first note of the music played, he was the first one on the dance floor. As in the TV show, Cheers, Frank was the guy for whom everyone knew his name. He knew everyone’s name as well, through his years bartending at varied establishments in North Adams and Williamstown. Coach Cas’ greatest joy was watching his own sons’ participation in sports and was proud of their accolades and awards in football, hockey, basketball and baseball.

When retirement came, he found new interests and his travels took him to the casinos of Atlantic City, the Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Oak Bluffs in Martha’s Vineyard, the boardwalk of Hampton Beach, theme parks in Florida, picturesque beaches in Hawaii, Aruba, Mexico, the lakes of Minnesota and the majesty of the High Sierra in Lake Tahoe, where during the summer he continued his bartending for the Celebrity Golf Tournament and the Outdoor Concerts at the Lake for Harrah’s Lake Tahoe. He loved meeting the entertainers and the sports celebrities who played in the event.

His last years were the fulfillment of a life-long dream…he became an investor of various race horses. Saratoga was his summer place to be. Whether it was planning his parlay at the track or sipping his Captain & Coke at the blackjack table or sampling the culinary delights of the best restaurants, Frank’s lifelong motto was “having more fun than humans should be allowed to have.” He lived that creed, his passion for living, to the fullest.

Frank leaves what he considered to be his most cherished legacy, his children; Bryan and his wife, Wendy, who Frank always thought of as a daughter, Christopher and Jonathan all residing in Minnesota, as well as his grandchildren, Larina, Kasey, Giada, Jaxon and Adrianna who adored their Grampa Frank and were excited for his visits. His loyal, loving and caring sister, Debra A. Casuscelli Blanchard and her fiancée and life companion, Frank Vigna, his former wife, friend and mother of his children, Anne Moran, his step-mother, Barbara I. Casuscelli, and many Casuscelli and Nassif cousins. He also leaves his step-children Monique Bolte (Travis), Angelique Marsh (Christopher), Edward Bachand (Heather), and his step-grandchildren McKayla, Brooke, Nicholas, Samantha, Bryce and Kaley, from his marriage of 17 years to the late Donna Bachand Casuscelli. Lastly, Frank spent the latter part of his last decade with his lovely, devoted friend and companion, Beverly Pittman, of Pittsfield, MA. In addition to his parents and his late wife, Donna, he was predeceased by his grandparents, Frank M. Casuscelli and Genevieve Anderson Casuscelli, Joseph Nassif and Angie Cater Nassif as well as many aunts, uncles and cousins of these two large families.

Per Frank’s wishes there will be no services. A Celebration of Life will be held at a future date. In his memory, the family kindly requests that donations be made in Frank’s name to either of the following local organizations: PopCares or Greylock Club Scholarship Fund The Casuscelli Family extends heartfelt gratitude to Dr. Alsmaan and the C.C.U. staff at Berkshire Medical Center for their kindness and devotion in the care that Frank and his family received. Frank was, as Theodore Roosevelt said, “the man in the arena.” A man who believed in winning, doing his best, accepting his failures, expending effort, and finding joy in the noble pursuits of living, laughing and loving with purpose.

Frank “Coach Cas” Casuscelli…the man, the myth, the legend. He will be deeply missed by all. To add to the Book of Memories, please visit www.flynndagnolifuneralhomes.com