Casco, ME – Casco, Maine – William A. Cassidy, Jr., 94, of Casco, died on April 29, 2026, after a brief illness. Born in Portland, he was the son of William A. Cassidy, Sr. and Dorothea Utterstrom Cassidy.
William was a graduate of Portland High School, Class of 1949, and of Boston University, where he earned a B.A. in American History in 1953, and an M.A. in Latin American Regional Studies in 1957.
He served in the Maine National Guard from 1950–1953, and in the United States Army from 1954–1956. A Korean War veteran, he was honorably discharged and returned to Boston University to complete his graduate studies.
From 1957 to 1967, Bill lived in Washington, D.C., where he worked as an archivist at the Library of Congress and taught social studies in the D.C. public schools. During this time, he also pursued doctoral-level coursework in American and Latin American history and political science at American University. He was deeply influenced by his years living and working in Washington during one of the most consequential decades in our nation’s history, a time of profound political and social change.
He later moved to western Massachusetts, where he taught social studies at Greenfield High School from 1968 to 1972. He then transitioned to the role of school librarian, completing graduate coursework in library science at the University of Rhode Island and becoming certified in Massachusetts. He served in that role from 1972 until his retirement in 1993, assisting generations of students with their research and learning.
Bill had a brilliant and inquisitive mind, a quick wit, and a deep appreciation for education and lifelong learning. He was passionate about politics and was an avid sports fan, once remarking, “I die annually with the Celtics, Red Sox, and Bruins.”
After retiring, he returned to Maine and made his home on Little Sebago Lake. He remained active in his community, substituting in local schools and volunteering with the Gray and Portland public libraries, at the Gray recycling center, and with local veterans through the Vet-to-Vet program.
He is survived by his daughter, Erin Cassidy of Northampton, Massachusetts; his grandchildren, Lila and Ian Guzowski; his former wife, Deborah (Cassidy) Cevasco; and several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his sisters, Annette Beckwith, Lois Shands, and Carole Matthews.
Interment will be private at Pine Grove Cemetery in Falmouth. A memorial gathering will be held at a later date.
Condolences may be offered at www.wilsonfhllc.com.
Donations in his memory may be made to Vet2Vet Maine (P.O. Box 1205, Biddeford, ME 04005), which pairs veterans for friendship and support, or to the Southern Poverty Law Center (P.O. Box 370240, Decatur, GA 30037), which works to protect civil rights and fight injustice, causes that mattered deeply to him. Online donations may be made through their respective websites.
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