Edward John Kasinskas Sr.

Edward John Kasinskas, Sr., beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully at his home on August 23, 2023 at the age of 96.  Edward was born in Ansonia, CT on May 11, 1927, son of the late Joseph and Eva Burcius Kasinskas.  He was predeceased by all of his siblings; Nellie A. Stankus, Joseph W. Kasinkas, Anthony V. Kasinskas, Jennie Kacerguis,  Reverend Clement Kasinskas C.P., Michael M. Kasinskas  and Gloria Anne Verbiskas.

Edward was also predeceased by his wife Anne Uhelsky with whom he shared 62 years of a loving married life together before her passing in 2017.  

Edward was a devout communicant of Holy Rosary Church and of St. Anthony’s Lithuanian Roman Catholic Church in Ansonia, where he served as a lector, usher, and collector. 

At St. Anthony’s he was a member of the Catholic Men’s Club and enjoyed spinning his Lithuanian Grocery Wheel during the annual bazaars and helping  at parish fund raising dinners.

 On March 19, 2006 he was the recipient of the prestigious St. Joseph Archdiocesan Medal of Appreciation presented by Archbishop Henry J. Mansell.  

Growing up in the “North End” in Ansonia, he walked many miles delivering the daily newspaper throughout the city.  He was a 1945 graduate of Charles H. Pine Training School where he served as the Secretary-Treasurer for the senior class.   He also attended the Culinary Institute in New Haven, CT and began a career in the baking industry. 

Edward served in the U.S. Army for two years during the Korean Conflict, stationed stateside at various bases on the east coast.  He was honorably discharged in 1952.  Edward began working at the Peter Paul candy factory in Naugatuck, CT.  He started as a security guard and later worked in various areas within the company to learn all facets of plant operations; retiring in 1985 after 36 years as the factory’s Manufacturing Service Manager.

He passed his love of manufacturing chocolate candy to teenagers participating in the Junior Achievement (JA) of Greater Waterbury, sponsored by Peter Paul-Cadbury.  In 1978 – 1979, his JA team “Candy World” was voted best team of the year, and the following year, his JA team “Chocolate Town of Naugatuck” earned the same honor.

In 1965 Edward was diagnosed with diabetes and was treated and educated about living as an insulin dependent diabetic at the Joslin Clinic in Boston, MA.  The Joslin Diabetes Center awarded Edward a Certificate of Achievement in 2015 for “living courageously with diabetes for 50 years” along with the Joslin Fifty Year Medal. 

Edward’s hobbies were cooking, wood working, BINGO, gardening, reading newspapers and bird watching.  He was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council # 10537 at Holy Rosary Church, a retreatant at Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT and a Veteran member at St. Michael’s Catholic War Veterans Post 1562 in Derby, CT.

Edward is survived by his three caring sons, Edward J. Kasinskas Jr and his wife Debra of Bethel, CT; Michael J. Kasinskas of Bethany, and Clement G. Kasinskas and his wife Anne of Meriden, CT.  Four precious grandchildren: Christopher and Jennifer Kasinskas of Bethel, CT; Dr. Alexander Kasinskas of Kenmore, WA; and Jacqueline Kasinskas of Boston, MA.  Several nieces and nephews also reside locally and in other parts of the United States. 

The family would like to acknowledge the individuals at Yale New Haven Health’s Northeast Medical Group which has been managing and treating Edward’s diabetes for many years: Dr. Sonia Hegde DO, Emily Keane-Layman RN, Ms. Carrie Marinelli and Roberta, his continually congenial and efficient receptionist.  In addition, his sons extend a note of gratitude and appreciation for Edward’s CNA Evelyn Browning who has done a wonderful job caring for Edward during the day-time hours after he left the skilled nursing facility to come home in February 2022.

Visitation for Edward will be held on Thursday, August 31, 2023 from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM at the Jenkins-King & Malerba Funeral Home, 12 Franklin Street, Ansonia, CT.  Family and friends may also gather at the funeral home on Friday at 10:00 AM prior to departing for an 11:00 AM Funeral Mass being celebrated in Holy Rosary Church, 10 Salemi Drive, Ansonia.  Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in Derby.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Edward’s memory to the Holy Family Passionist Retreat Center in West Hartford, CT or the Joslin Diabetes Center, Boston, MA through the funeral director. 

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