LYNN — A former mayor J. Warren Cassidy, 93, died Wednesday in Mirror Lake, NH.
The Item was informed by a member of the Lynn Police Department.
Cassidy was born September 28, 1930 in Lynn. He graduated from Wakefield High School in 1948 and Dartmouth College in 1953.
Warren played catcher for Dartmouth. His daughter, Beth Grew, said a favorite memory of his was the time he got to pitch batting practice to Ted Williams at Fenway Park. She added he loved sports, including ice hockey, baseball and golf, all of his life.
After college, Cassidy served in the U.S. Marine Corps for 22 years and earned the ranking of Commandant of the Marine Engineering Unit housed in Lynn’s old post office.
Grew said In the same month as enlisting to the Corps, he married his “smart and beautiful” wife, Joan – the “most important” event in his life.
Cassidy would then serve a two year term as mayor from 1970 to 1972. He won election in November 1969 by 251 votes from Pasquale Caggiano, who would precede Cassidy in the following mayoral term.
Mayor Jared Nicholson said, “The City remains grateful for the dedication, vision, and unwavering commitment to our community that Mayor Cassidy displayed.”
“He leaves behind a legacy of progress and service that will continue to inspire us all. Our condolences go out to his family during this difficult time.”
Sam Vitali, an attorney, said Cassidy had a business approach to running the city, which might not have resonated with voters, but that he brought good people to the governing body and made decisions he was confident in.
“Cassidy’s legacy will be the good people he brought together,” he added.
Cassidy also served as the executive vice president of the National Rifle Association from 1986 to 1991. He joined the NRA in 1978 on its board of directors. Grew said his lifelong interest in firearms began when he received a rifle for his 14th birthday.
After retirement, he moved to East Wakefield New Hampshire with Joan where he enjoyed family visits and relaxing with the neighborhood pets.
Cassidy is survived by his wife Joan Cassidy; son Joseph Cassidy and his wife Anne, daughter Julia Rose and her husband Ray, son Philip Cassidy and his wife Tina; daughter Susan van Tongeren and her husband Philip; daughter Beth Grew and her husband Steven; his sister, Carol Welch; his grandchildren: Michael, Diana, Bart, Cara, and Cassie; and his great grandchildren: Aiyla, Shayn, and Alina. He was predeceased by Christopher van Tongeren.
