Fort Hunt Student Athlete, Jackson Casey, Dies At 11

Jackson Ryan Casey, a Stratford Elementary School Student and little league athlete, passed away on March 31, 2011. A family member says the cause has yet to be determined. He was 11 years old.

Jackson was born in Baltimore, Md. on July 13, 1999.  He then moved with his family to Alexandria, Va., where he attended Stratford Landing Elementary School, a short distance from his house.  As a sixth-grade student, Casey was in Ms. Edith Giffear’s classroom. His favorite subject was math.

Jackson was an athlete in the Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association, participating in sports like lacrosse and basketball. Those that knew him said he exhibited both great athletic prowess and considerable sportsmanship.

“He had a such a spirit on the field,” said Jeff Miller, his lacrosse coach from last spring. “He gave 110 percent and he did it with a smile.” Jackson had tried out for and earned a spot on the Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association 11A team, the Titans.

The Casey family are members of , where Jackson was in a confirmation class.  In that class Jackson was compassionate about the needs of others and always willing to lend a helping hand to whoever needed it, said Andrew DiAntonio, the director youth ministries.

“If we would say we need a volunteer his arm would be up in the air before we even said what it was for,” he said.  Jackson would have been confirmed in May. DiAntonio added that Jackson would talk about those who were oppressed or less fortunate that he was, like most recently when he talked about those suffering in Japan.

“He was just always thoughtful,” said DiAntonio. “[He showed] so much compassion for other people at a level that seemed to be beyond the other kids.”

In a recent assignment for class, Jackson wrote, “if the world was perfect as God made it, the world would be in harmony…. People would not be scared, because they knew God would protect them.” 

Jackson leaves behind his father, Sean, his mother, Jennifer, and brother and sister, twins Conor and Reilly. Also surviving are his grandparents George and Sheila Casey and Gail and Mark Randis.  He has living great grandparents including, Elaine Casey Murphy and Cal and Edith Fisher. He was the nephew of Adam Randis, Mark and Michelle Randis, and Ryan and Laura Casey.

“He was a very loving friend, brother, and teammate,” said Ryan Casey, his uncle.

A funeral was held on Monday, April 4, at 11 a.m. at .

In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be sent to the Fort Hunt Youth Athletic Association (FHYAA).  The money will be used for the association’s general operating expenses, though another memorial fund may be started later.

Checks should specify that the money is for the Jackson Casey Memorial Fund.  The address is P.O. Box 6031, Alexandria, VA 22306.