Richard Cassetta

Richard D. Cassetta, Professor Emeritus of the College of New Rochelle, died peacefully at his home in Rye, on July 21, 2018. He was 81.

Born in the Bronx, on May 1, 1937, he was the son of Paul R. and Matilda Cassetta. He attended Mount St. Michael High School in the Bronx, where he was an honor student, a member of the football team, and a star runner on the Mount’s track team. He ran the lead leg of the Mount’s highly acclaimed 1954 mile-relay team, which among many other accomplishments, won the Penn Relays.

He went on to Manhattan College, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Chemistry in 1960. He went on to earn a master’s degree in Chemistry from St. John’s University and did doctorate work at Tufts University.

Professor Cassetta taught physical and organic chemistry at the College of New Rochelle for 47 years, mentoring generations of future chemists, teachers, doctors, nurses, and business people until his retirement in 2009.

He was a member of the American Chemical Society and served as chairman of the New York Chapter of the American Chemical Society for several years.

Richard Cassetta married Carole E. Molines on September 3, 1961. They would have celebrated their 57^th wedding next month. “As we are noting on his headstone, my husband was a champion on the track field and in life,” said his wife.

In addition to his wife, Mr. Cassetta is survived by his six children: Richard P. Cassetta, Monique Class, Paul R. Cassetta II, Dr. Michael Cassetta, CDR. Stephen Cassetta, (USNR, Ret.), and Christine (Cassetta) Kenny; and 14 grandchildren. He was predeceased by his sister, Matilda and his brother, Paul.

The family received friends at Graham Funeral Home in Rye on July 26. A Mass of Christian burial was celebrated at Resurrection Church on July 27.

Donations in Richard Cassetta’s memory may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).