Posted on 03/27/2004 8:06:08 PM PST by Born Conservative
LEWISBURG — Louis J. Casimir Jr. of Lewisburg died Feb. 5, but almost two months after his death, or in his words, "bought the farm," he continues to bring chuckles. Casimir, a former Bucknell University English professor, penned his own obituary — with a heaping dose of wit — and last weekend, the Feb. 7 obit went national.
The popular hosts of National Public Radio’s Car Talk, Tom and Ray Magliozzi (aka Click and Clack — the Tap It Brothers), read the obit word for word during March 20’s installment of Car Talk.
The obit, in which Casimir said his "childhood friends who weren’t killed or maimed in various wars became petty criminals, prostitutes, and/or Republicans," had been submitted to Car Talk by Richard Cheslock, according to the Car Talk Web site. It did not say where Cheslock was from.
The obituary was read with giggling glee by the brothers Magliozzi, whose program has an audience of 4.1 million listeners and is carried on 588 radio outlets in the United States as well as overseas.
They chuckled as they read, "He survived three years overseas in an infantry regiment in excellent health, then university for four years on the GI bill, and never thereafter had to do an honest day’s work. He was loved by good women, had loyal friends, and all his children were healthy, handsome and bright."
One quipped, "We were running neck and neck with him until that last sentence."
Near the end of the program segment, a brother said, "Louis Casimir Jr., don’t lose this guy. If you wanted to, you could make a donation to the Union County Public Library in Lewisburg, Pa. Let’s do it."
"Sure."
"Let’s send them 20 bucks."
"You cheapskate."
"All right, you send them 10 and I’ll send them 10."
Melanie Weber, head of adult services at the library, said the library received a flurry of phone and e-mail inquiries from throughout the northeastern United States after the obituary ran asking if it was real and if they could get a copy.
"I’m not sure how it got such widespread distribution" before Car Talk, said Weber. "The obituary, because it was so unusual, has been asked for by a lot of different people."
It characterized Casimir as a "daredevil" whose last words were, "Watch this!" and also asked that donations in his memory be made to the public library.
So far, those donations have tallied up to nearly $400, plus a book.
"Most of the donations we have received have been from people who actually knew Mr. Casimir as a professor or as a neighbor," said Weber. One, though, came from a woman who "saw it in the newspaper and felt compelled to send a check because she was so taken by the obituary."
"We appreciate he thought of us," said Weber. "It kind of put us on a map as well."
Casimir’s brother, Jack Casimir of Houston, had not yet heard the Car Talk program, but said "that’s great" that the obituary was continuing to bring smiles to those who never even knew him while helping the library. "It was a nice way for him to end his life," he added.
The Web site introduced the piece with "an obituary for a guy we wish we knew." It can be read at http://www.cartalk.com or follow the links to listen to the audio from Saturday’s program.
As of March 23, the Car Talk brothers hadn’t yet made good on their chatter of making a library donation. But if and when that check arrives, would the library accept it?
"You betcha," said Weber. "It is a generous thought and a really nice way to remember somebody by showing concern and support for the public library, especially if it was the request of that particular person."
LEWISBURG-Louis J. Casimir Jr. bought the farm Thursday, Feb. 5, 2004, having lived more than twice as long as he had expected and probably three or four times as long as he deserved.
Although he was born into an impecunious family, in a backward and benighted part of the country at the beginning of the Great Depression, he never in his life suffered any real hardships.
Many of his childhood friends who weren’t killed or maimed in various wars became petty criminals, prostitutes, and/or Republicans.
He survived three years overseas in an infantry regiment in excellent health, then university for four years on the GI bill, and never thereafter had to do an honest day’s work.
He was loved by good women, had loyal friends, and all his children were healthy, handsome, and bright.
For more than six decades, he smoked, drank, and ate lots of animal fat, but never had a serious illness or injury.
His last wish was that everyone could be as lucky as he had been, even through (sic) his demise was probably iatrogenic.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Judy.
He is survived by his brother Jack of Houston, Texas; and his children, Randall Kent of Brunswick, GA., Louis John III (Trey) of Lewisburg, Thomas Bettis of Lewisburg and Edith Austin Wheat of Austin, Texas.
Lou was a daredevil: his last words were “Watch this!”
A memorial service and barbecue will be held on Labor Day at Lou’s place.
Donations may be made in Lou’s memory to the Union County Public Library, 205 Reitz Blvd., Lewisburg, PA 17837.
Funeral arrangements were by Shaw Funeral Home, Milton.
Editor’s note: This obituary was provided by the family.
NPR will bash Republicans every chance they get...
Secondhand Lions bump!
So will liberal college professors...
When I first read this my immediate response was to laugh. It was good and gives me no problems. Oh - that there were any Democrats left with a sense of humor.
I still think its funny.
CALLER: Hello, this is _____ calling from _____.
F&F: Hello, _____. What are you drivin'?
CALLER: It's a _____.
F&F: Why on earth are you driving a piece of crap like that? HAW! HAW! HAW!
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