Donald Casey Jr. receives the first annual Sunny Award

MONROE, Conn. — Buses lined up outside Masuk High School after classes were dismissed Tuesday afternoon, while Unified Sports Coach Donald M. Casey Jr. prepared for his basketball team’s first practice in the gym.

“He’s a champion for kids of all ages,” Principal Steve Swensen told a news reporter, as he watched Casey at work. “He lives to celebrate kids and all that kids can do. He’s the happiest man I ever met.”

Casey assembled ribbon necklaces on the floor to award to students who became members of the National Honors Society. He told Swensen that 11 of the 82 Masuk indoor track students he coaches and six of the 33 Unified Sports students made the grade.

“Yes,” Casey exclaimed, pumping his fist.

“See what I mean?” Swensen said.

Casey called students over to him and put ribbons around their necks. “Congratulations National Honors Society member,” he said to one female student. “I’m proud of you!”

When all of his players arrived, Casey told them to form a circle in the middle of the gym so he could give out more awards — not knowing The Monroe Sun had brought an award to honor him.

Casey is the recipient of the first ever Sunny Award, recognizing someone who selflessly gives back to the community, while making Monroe a better place to live. He won the award for his dedication to Unified Sports and to coaching area youth.

Casey makes Unified Sports athletes feel special with medals, pizza parties and dances with other schools, and organizes team building exercises for the indoor track team. He always stresses the importance of teamwork, Panther pride and, most of all, having fun.

Swensen politely interrupted Casey to inform him that he would be receiving an award too. Then this author, Bill Bittar, founder and editor of The Monroe Sun, presented the Sunny, telling Casey there is no one more deserving.

Casey thanked him for the award, held it in both hands and lifted it over his head in triumph as his team and administrators applauded.

“This is a team award,” Casey told his students. “You are responsible for this, because of all of your hard work. I love you all. I’m really proud of you.”

Moments later, he said, “I’m shocked. I had no idea about this.”

A ray of sunshine

Casey recently retired from Stepney Elementary School, after a career as a special education teacher spanning more than three decades. But his involvement with area youth never ended.

He coaches Unified Sports at Jockey Hollow Middle School and Masuk, as well as Masuk indoor track and Jockey Hollow cross country. He leads the YMCA’s morning program at Stepney and volunteers at Camp Tepee.

Two banners hung inside the Masuk gym signify that it is a National Unified Champion School. Swensen said Casey helped the school complete the application for the 2023 to 2027 banner.

“A lot of that is from him looking to increase opportunities for kids,” Swensen said of the achievement.

Marissa Memoli, assistant director of Student Support Services for the school district, and Jennifer Fisher, a school psychologist at Jockey Hollow, who got to know Casey through their work in Unified Sports, attended Tuesday’s practice at Masuk.

“He’s a very giving person,” Memoli said of Casey.

“He sees the positive in everyone,” Fisher added.

Superintendent Joseph Kobza, Masuk Assistant Principal Ian Lowell and STEM Academy Director Mark Schwarz also attended the practice to see Casey receive the Sunny Award.

“I couldn’t think of a more deserving person to receive the first Sunny Award than Don Casey,” Kobza said. “Don gives selflessly of his time and the kids know that they are his number one priority at every moment.”

Upon learning that Casey received the Sunny Award, Jockey Hollow Principal Julia Strong said, “Don is an inspiring educator and has made such a positive impact coaching at Jockey Hollow. We are very lucky to have a coach of his caliber working with our student-athletes. He is a literal ray of sunshine!”

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