A. Leo Caisse Jr.
Date of Passing:
Caisse, A. Leo, 70, of Goldsmith Avenue, East Providence, died after a short illness on October 22, 2020. He was the former husband of Susan A. (Carroll) Caisse and longtime companion of Cathy Cronk.
Born and raised in Barrington, the son of the late A. Leo and Kathleen (Lardner) Caisse, he lived in East Providence since 2006.
Leo was a graduate of the former De La Salle Academy in Newport in 1969 and received his Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in history from Providence College in 1973 and 1976 respectively.
He had many purchasing roles throughout his career, including those at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, the former Fogarty Memorial Hospital in Woonsocket, Teknor Apex in Pawtucket and for many years at Hasbro in Pawtucket and East Providence. Most recently, he worked as a security guard at the Providence Place Mall, retiring in January 2020.
Leo was an active volunteer for his children’s many activities, from assistant coaching various soccer and Little League teams, serving as Cubmaster for Pack 1 West Barrington and Assistant Scoutmaster for Troop 8 Barrington, and teaching Religious Education at St. Luke’s Church. In his younger days, he was a member of the former Hampden Meadows Volunteer Fire Company.
Politics was also an important part of Leo’s early adult life. He ran for the Rhode Island Senate to represent Barrington several times in the late 1970s and early 1980s. He attended the 1972 and 1976 Democratic National Conventions as a member of Young Democrats, was elected as a delegate for Sen. Ted Kennedy’s presidential campaign and attended the 1980 DNC. In 1978, he was invited to the White House by Sen. Claiborne Pell to witness the negotiations of the Panama Canal Treaties which were successfully ratified by the Senate during the Carter administration. At the time, he was youngest ever chairman of a town Democratic Committee in Rhode Island.
Leo’s passion for history continued during his later years as he was an active author of historical articles that have been published in various Rhode Island, New England and national periodicals and websites. He gave radio interviews, delivered presentations and ultimately, researched and wrote a book entitled “The Civilian Conservation Corps: A Guide to Their Works in Rhode Island.” The book was a tribute to his late father, who passed when Leo was very young, both to memorialize the many lasting contributions of the CCC in Rhode Island and to recount his father’s adventures in the Pacific Northwest. He is indebted over many years to the patient and tenacious employees of the Research Departments of the East Providence and Providence Public Libraries without whom this work could not have been undertaken. Leo was also a member of the East Providence Historic District Commission.
He is survived by six children, A. Leo Caisse III (Marion) of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, Jacqueline (Robert) Doe of Medfield, Massachusetts, Benjamin (Hannah) Caisse of Smithfield, Andrew (Laura) Caisse of Amherst, New Hampshire, Nicholas (Kristen) Caisse of Cranston and Christopher Caisse of Washington DC; twelve grandchildren: Ian, Simon and Sophie Caisse, Isla, Rohan and Norah Doe, Cameron and Jillian Caisse, Rory and Ryan Caisse, Madelyn and Amelia Caisse. He was the brother of Mary Gelfuso and Louise Kilcline, both of Barrington.
His funeral will be held on Thursday October 29, 2020 from the W. RAYMOND WATSON FUNERAL HOME, 350 Willett Avenue, Riverside at 8:45 a.m. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Luke Church, Washington Road, Barrington at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in St. Jean Baptiste Cemetery, Warren. Calling hours are Wednesday 4-7 p.m. Flowers are respectfully omitted. Contributions in Leo’s memory to https://www.eastprovidencelibrary.org/about/friends-of-the-library/ would be deeply appreciated.
The guidelines set forth by the Rhode Island Department of Health will be observed. Face coverings are required and only fifteen people will be allowed in the building at a time.
Leo, thank you for being such a wonderful person to my sister, Cathy. I know you often told me how the both of you were soulmates, and how much you loved each other. Thank you for making her so happy all those years, and for being an indirect part of our family as well. May you rest in peace with the angels, always watching over Cathy and those you love. Until we meet again…
Leo and Marion and family, I’m still in shock when I saw Leo’s obituary in the E.P. Reporter today. So, so sorry to hear of Leo’s passing. He loved you guys so much, and I loved sharing time with all of you, good memories, no regrets. I know he must have been so happy you moved to Canada. Leo and I were good, supportive friends for many years, and my memories of him will always be one of friendship. God Bless you and your family.
Saddened to read of a friend’s passing just a week ago.
Leo Caisse worked as a security guard at the Providence Place Mall North loading dock..I would sit on my break at the loading dock and we would chat of our family’s and just life in general..we lost touch shortly after Nordstrom closed..
You will be remembered as a great friend who always brightened my mornings sharing a laugh or two..
My deepest heartfelt condolences to your family on your passing..You told me how you loved and admired you children and grandchildren and how proud you were of them..
Leo, May you Rest in Peace and your spirit fly high among the Angels..
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Our condolences to you all. We loved the many articles Leo researched and wrote for the New England Historical Society. It was always a pleasure to hear he had a new idea he was pursuing. He had a great gift for finding and telling a good story. We’re sorry to learn of his passing.
Dan and Leslie Landrigan
Dear Leo, Sorry to hear about your dad’s passing away.My sincere condolences in this difficult time for you and your Family.
Leo, so sorry to hear about your Dad. It’s such sad news. And all the more difficult with the travel restrictions in place. My thoughts are with you, Marion and the kids. You often mentioned your father and from reading the obituary, he was a very remarkable man. Take care.
Hi Leo,
You have been on my mind the whole week since last week’s message you shared with me on the 22nd of October. I would like to bring over my sincere condolences for the loss of your father. With sympathy greetings to you and your family in the coming period.
Kind regards
Robert
My sincere condolences to you and your family Leo. Very sorry to hear of your loss.
Dear Leo, I´m very sorry to hear that your father passed away. My sincere condolences in this difficult time for you and your Family.
Leo, so sorry to hear about your dad passing. It was a pleasure to have met him and spend time with you both in River Lee Hotel during his trip to Ireland. So nice to have those memories together as father and son. I will be thinking about you and your family during these difficult times. From Norma & all the Cork Office in Trend.
Dear Leo, so sorry to hear about your dad’s passing. Can only imagine how hard it is for all of you at the moment and so soon after you returning ‘home’. Our thoughts are with you and your family during this time and all your friends from Trend Europe are thinking of you.
Hi Leo,
Losing a parent is very difficult, please accept my sincere condolences to you and your family at this difficult time, and always remember the good times you had 🙂
Deepest sympathy from Ireland
My sincere condolences Leo to you and your family. Amitiés
HI Leo, sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. This was certainly not part of the plan when you decided to leave Belgium to be closer to your family. I hope the great moments you had together may give your strength to deal with this loss. I would like to pass on sincere condolences from team Benelux at Trend.
What an incredible life. Condolences from the Gerrard-Boden Family
I thank Leo for the articles he wrote for the Historical Society Gazette and for the presentations he did on the CC and the Runford Rifle Range. he always had another topic on the fire! Thanks so much Leo!
We’re so sorry for your loss. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
With Sincere Sympathy,
The Cioe Family
Condolences to all. Leo was my dads godson. Mary and Louise I have such great memories of growing up in our neighborhood. Running back and forth from Brown to Lincoln. Playing in the woods and enjoying a great childhood. My grandson is named Leo and think of your family and your brother frequently. With sympathy Debbie(Colangelo)Colasanti
My condolences to all family member,, Such a nice guy you’ll always he remember
From another long list cousin. I wish I had known you you sound like a really interesting guy. A great life. My condolences to your family.
This from a long lost cousin wondering where the last 55 years have gone? I’ve read a number of Leo’s historical articles and especially appreciated the CCC stories featured in the NE History Journal.
Regretfully living in the Wash. DC area and due to COVID 19 travel restrictions we unfortunately won’t be able to attend Leo’s funeral services. This note to convey our warmest regards and sincere sympathy to his family.
Cousin John McGovern
Knoxville, Maryland
I remember Leo – before and after – when he was Barrington’s Democratic Chairman. He was an interesting guy and someone to look up to. God bless all his survivers.
Love and prayers to the family of Leo Caisse .
Sending condolences to the Caisee clan on this sad occasion. You were a great family to have in the St. Luke Religious Education program and in the many activities about the town. God bless you all.
Rest in peace my friend heaven is shining a little bit brighter tonight you will be missed.
Rest in peace Leo I remember our many historical and political discussions at Providence Place Mall.
To Leo’s Family,
I was saddened to learn of Leo’s passing. We became acquainted through his work at the Providence Place Mall. For eleven years, we would chat about his love for history. He was always so knowledgeable, passionate and elegant in his “history lessons.” He was very proud of his children and grandchildren. I always enjoyed reading his articles, and I’m sure he had many more books in him. May you find peace in your many memories of happy times shared with him. Please accept my sincere condolences on his passing. May he rest in peace.
The East Providence Historic District Commission and the East Providence Historical Society are sadden to hear of Leo’s passing. Both organizations valued his historical knowledge and research. He will be missed.
Deb Ormerod
The East Providence Historic District Commission and the East Providence Historical Society are sadden to hear of Leo’s passing. Both organizations valued his historical knowledge and research. He will be missed.
Deb Ormerod
I remember Leo, well, from our early day together in BARRINGTON politics. Always an able and vigorous competitor. Always a gentleman. Alway with BARRINGTON’s best interest at heart. I was saddened to learn of his death.
A remarkable life. I’m sorry to hear of his passing. My thoughts and prayers to his children and grandchildren.
Leo, I know you are in a better place now, with your Mom and Dad and free from all the pain and worries of the world. I miss you so much, you were always there for me. Heaven now has another angel. Until we meet again I am not the same without you.