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Fordham Observer

The Observer Mourns the Loss of its News Editor

By The Editorial Board

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Published: Sunday, July 19, 2009

Updated: Thursday, February 25, 2010

Casey

Craig Calefate, The Observer

Casey Feldman

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The Observer is devastated to announce the death of Casey Feldman, our esteemed news editor, from injuries she sustained when she was hit by a car on July 17. We lost more than an incredible reporter; we lost a friend. Often in the newsroom until the early morning hours before sending the Observer to print, she would work to perfect her in-depth coverage of frequently difficult topics. Even while dealing with the most serious issues, she possessed the rare talent of making a group of tired and grumpy editors laugh while still remaining focused on the task at hand. We will miss Casey more than words can express. Our thoughts and prayers are with Casey and the rest of the Feldman family.

Please post your favorite memory of Casey, whether it is a funny moment or a touching story. See below for a list of related articles to read some of the work that Casey has done during her time at the Observer.

Fordham’s statement can be found here:

 

Please click here for a staff-written obituary.

 

A message from the Observer News Department:

When news hit about Casey Feldman's untimely and tragic death, it was a shocking, surreal, and deeply saddening moment for all. The reality that a young, energetic, beautiful and talented colleague and friend was gone in the blink of an eye was an overwhelming shock.

I worked closely with Casey, first as her writer, and then very briefly as one of her assistant editors. I still remember in vivid detail the first time Casey dissected and critiqued what I thought to be one of my finest articles. It was a gut wrenching moment, but one that I would not trade for anything in the world.

As my editor, Casey taught me invaluable lessons that books and lectures just could not convey. She meticulously went over every one of my articles, and articulately critiqued my work, teaching me tips and lessons that she knew, and rightfully so, I would benefit from. Casey was firm, but never condescending. She had faith in her writers' abilities, and did everything in her power to help everyone reach their highest potential. Casey saw talent under heaps of disorganization, and refused to rest until it was fully realized.

On behalf of the entire news team, I extend my deepest sympathies and sadness to everyone affected by this devastating loss. I can say from firsthand experience that the Observer has lost one of the finest talents it has ever known.

Moving forward, the news department recognizes the standards that Casey has set, and we will strive tirelessly to achieve them. Using everything Casey had taught us, the news section will continue to work hard to produce the finest news coverage possible for the Fordham community. Casey, without your guidance, direction, talent and inspiration, the news section would not be nearly as esteemed and distinguished as it is today. I assure you that your legacy of careful, focused, and fair news coverage will live on.

In Memory,

Anndrew J. Vacca On behalf of the Observer News team.

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23 comments

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Ashley WennersHerron
Sun Jul 26 2009 00:15
I found myself twirling a strand of my hair today. It's a habit I picked up from Casey. I can't stop thinking about her, sitting right by the door in 406 with her knee pulled up to her chin and twirling her hair, carefully listening and contributing to the conversation. She always managed to explain a complicated story with perfect clarity, and she was able to constructively critique pieces by less experienced writers through thoughtful and guiding questions. I really hope I managed to pick up those habits from her, too.

It's not going to be the same without you, Casey. Not at all.

Anthony Petito
Wed Jul 22 2009 04:39
While I did not know Casey that well, I had class with her at one point. She was a very intelligent person, and I can not believe that this happened. While her untimely death is very tragic, from hearing all the good things about her I can only say that Fordham lost a deeply compassionate, dedicated, and purely great person. She was always kind, and she was a prolific writer, one whose articles I frequently turned to in The Observer. I think I can speak for everyone and say that she will be missed. We must remember her for the great person that she is, and better ourselves so that we may strive to exemplify the great qualities that shone through her every day. My condolences go out to her family and friends, and I will keep Casey and her loved ones in my prayers.
anon.
Wed Jul 22 2009 00:50
I had two classes with Casey this past semester and though I didn't know her very well, I keep replaying the few times we did chat over and over in my head. I always looked upon her with admiration for her ability to communicate her thoughts and ideas with such ease. I knew that she had so much going for her and had heard about how respected she was for her journalism.

When I got the email the other night with this terrible, tragic news, my heart sank. Though this is beyond words and there really is no good explanation for why such a beautiful, smart person was taken from us, it really helped to open my eyes for the first time that life is so fragile. You hear that all the time, but when someone your age... someone who was in the same position you are - getting ready to share her talents with the world, is taken before getting to accomplish all of her goals, it is a true eye opener.

My heart is aching for her family and friends and I wish I could personally give a hug to each and every one of you who must be hurting so bad right now. Like I said, I didn't even know Casey that well, but my stomach has been in knots consistently for the past couple of days. May she rest in peace, and her spirit live on in all of her loved ones.

Ashley Tedesco
Wed Jul 22 2009 00:19
Billy, thank you for the reminder of Casey perched at the far end of the awkward U-shaped table. I don't think it will ever seem okay to me to see anybody else sitting there. I think it's funny the little things you remember. I remember the first time she came to my room last year to have a "big talk" about deadlines and plans for the year, and she came in and perched herself on my windowsill in this impossible position that was nothing short of adorable. She just sat there so cool and collected and talked and for whatever reason, that seems to be the image that I've summed her personality up with in my mind. She was just comfortable, always. She always seemed to belong. And she was truly unique. We miss you, boo.
Christina Frasca
Tue Jul 21 2009 12:49
I only knew Casey through our Internship Seminar Course this past spring, but I could see why so many people were fond of her. She always asked questions about everyone else's work in the class, and was always genuinely interested in what other people had to say. The few conversations I did have with her will remain with me forever. This news is such a shock to me, as it must be to everyone. My heart goes out to her family and close friends. You will be missed, Casey.
Brooke Burdge
Tue Jul 21 2009 08:46
The one word that keeps coming up in my head to describe Casey is inquisitive. She was a journalist, not only because she had her byline appear in different publications. She would ask so many questions about the most seemingly insignificant things everyday, wanting to know all details and viewpoints. She took pictures all the time, not wanting to miss a moment and trying to see things from all angles. She wanted to know everything-- not just about classes and the articles she was always writing, but also about her friends and about how things worked and why.

Her genuine love for her friends and her thorough interest in everything life had to offer will stay with me forever...I strive to live life as beautifully as Casey effortlessly did each day.

My thoughts are with her family, roommates, friends at Fordham and home, and the rest of The Observer family.

Brooke Burdge
Tue Jul 21 2009 08:45
I can't stop reading these comments and thinking how true every single one is. Casey did not alter who she was around certain people-- she was the same, bright, beautiful, loving girl to everyone.

I met Casey at freshman orientation over the summer in 2006. I have a vivid memory walking past Lincoln Center on the scavenger hunt, her telling me about how her Facebook picture is her in a sombrero and wondering what kind of impression that will give... Saw her during the first week of school sitting in the cafeteria with people I hadn't met. It's hard for me to go up to a group of people I don't know like that, but something drew me to her light and I knew she could become a good friend. She has completely followed through and has been one of the best friends to me I could have asked for, and I cannot imagine how my time at Fordham or my life would have been without her effect on me.

Our friendship grew through The Observer, complaints about having to write papers for the same class, dance parties, trips downtown to Billy's Bakery and walks uptown to Magnolia once it opened, random "PING" messages to each other on our Blackberries for no reason except that Casey discovered this button and thought it was hilarious because it served no purpose, subway trips to an animal shelter in SoHo followed by lunch in Little Italy... Casey loved New York, loved being here at Fordham and starting out on this life she had imagined, knowing that she had a great future ahead of her and she was determined to see it happen, she knew it would happen.

anon
Mon Jul 20 2009 23:21
RIP Casey
Billy
Mon Jul 20 2009 22:53
(continued)

I keep wondering why someone like you had to go. It’s one of those things that will just never make sense. I don’t know what else to say... I miss you, and I know you’re terribly missed by those who were fortunate enough to be closer to you. My heart goes out to all of them and your family. Heaven must have needed a wonderful person/reporter or maybe the Observer needed an angel.

I’ll miss your smile, the sound of your voice, and of course, your “fails,” “creeps,” and “boos.”

I hope you feel no pain and that you will forever rest in peace.

Love,
Billy

Billy
Mon Jul 20 2009 22:41
(continued)

I have a mental picture of the board. I envision the meetings in 406, the gray tables lined up to make an awkward U-shape, and I see everyone sitting in our sections. I can’t imagine not seeing you on the south side of that U. It’s hard to accept that one of us is missing, gone. But nothing can change the fact that we are all still family. You’ll always be in that picture, Casey. Each and every time we paint it.

I’ll cherish our last connection a few weeks ago, an exchange of wall posts, and how great it is that we made each other laugh. Though we weren’t especially close and the times we shared weren’t as frequent as I wish, it’s important to embrace the ones we did have. Some of them I find myself struggling to remember and there are other ones that I can’t forget—like the time you teased my love for all things hip hop by saying my soul is brown, or watched clips of Maury in the office or when we wrote ridiculous reefers and headlines during layout that we knew could never make the front page.

Billy
Mon Jul 20 2009 22:37
Hi Casey,

The other morning I looked through the business card holders the seniors got as gifts to read your note, I guess looking for some way to communicate with you. I sat there holding it; I touched it with my thumb and I touched it with my heart. Thanks for what you wrote. I wish I could’ve given you a card in return, just to tell you how much I think of you while you were still here. I guess this will have to do.

I’ve always considered The Observer a family and I think the special thing is that so many of us do. The loss of a student to a college newspaper would almost seem secondary, if not irrelevant in the grand scheme of things if this tragedy had happened to anyone else, but in your case, being how much you love the Observer and your excellence as a reporter, to not mention the paper is a terrible oversight, and it’s just not you. You were awesome at your job. We all knew it and I hope you do too. Driven is one of the first words I’ve been using to describe you. I hope someday we can all find something we love like you loved journalism, and the find the resolve and drive to go after it. To be honest, just thinking about you approached your job and about how fragile life is, I feel somewhat inspired and empowered by your memory. It’s a similar effect that you had as an editor, you were a perfectionist, and expected the same out of everyone else you worked with. You made people rise up, you made them bigger. You made our paper better.

Back to the non-professional stuff, our Observer family. For my first three years at school, I struggled to make friends and find my group, my clique. I tried to fit in with English majors, the playwrights, etc, and while I met some great people, I never truly felt that I belonged. That was until you and our wonderful friends came into my life. The strongest connection I found was in room 406 and the Observer office. And it was because of people like you, and the warmth and friendliness you exuded, that made me feel at home. Meeting everyone at the Observer felt like meeting long lost friends. We had such fun last year, why weren’t we together all along?

Kathryn Cusimano
Mon Jul 20 2009 21:27
Casey was an extraordinary reporter and a wonderful friend. Casey will be missed by the Observer, the University and the media community, which needs people like her. We should all aspire to give our work the same commitment to excellence Casey gave to every assignment. Casey was truly an inspiration.

I miss you, boo.

Professor Amy Aronson
Mon Jul 20 2009 20:28
Casey was such a promising young journalist and outstanding student. She was a true thought-leader in my classes, someone who always asked important questions -- of the material, of the world, of me, of herself. This is a terrible loss to us all.
Josh Cruz
Mon Jul 20 2009 15:57
I'm so saddened by the news Casey's death. Casey was a talented journalist and a very motivated and engaged one at that. Being a fellow journalism student and Observer writer, I had classes with her many times including this spring.Casey was always one of the brightest people in every class as well as in the Observer news room. Beyond being a smart girl she was very sweet and fun a really fun person. My thoughts are with her family right now.
Linza Mostert
Mon Jul 20 2009 13:55
The words "sweet, beaming ray of sunshine" perfectly sums up Casey, I will always remember this beautiful young woman waiting in our office to see Professor Stone, she really had a presence that lit up the room. She leaves behind multiple examples of her tremendous talent as a writer and journalist.
The world has indeed been robbed of a person who would have made a difference.
I cannot even express how heartbroken we all are and how much we will miss her. We want her family to know just how much she was loved, respected and treasured by not just our Department but by everyone at Fordham.
Casey, you are gone too soon but will never be forgotten...
Megan Stillwell
Mon Jul 20 2009 12:57
From meeting as two awkward freshman going to Starbucks, to interrupting photo class to discuss our same boots, I cannot recall one negative memory about Casey. She was an amazing part of the Observer-- she was an inspiration. Her memory will inspire me for the rest of my life. She was a true and sassy piece of sunshine. I am heartbroken that the human family has lost such a good one.
Prof. Fran Stern
Mon Jul 20 2009 12:22
I am deeply saddened at the news of Casey’s death. It’s so hard to believe that this young, lovely, vibrant, bright, determined, kind and generous young woman has been taken from us so soon. She was a sparkling presence in my classroom, an outstanding contributor and an exemplary young journalist. Our lives were enriched by knowing her. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
fordham student
Mon Jul 20 2009 11:29
Casey was one of the most beautiful people I have ever met. I aspire to be half as kind as she was. I hope her death wakes people up to the need of more stop signs and streetlights in the area. She was a truly remarkable and talented person. RIP Casey.
Natasha Pascetta
Sun Jul 19 2009 21:21
Casey was one of the first friends I made at Fordham. She helped teach me how to write and was just a wonderful, self-less, beautiful person. I will always remember her. Love you Casey.
Liz Bowen
Sun Jul 19 2009 20:12
I didn't even know Casey that well, but I've had a really hard time dealing with this. I doubt she even knew it, but Casey was such an inspiration to me; even while she was alive, I told people I thought she was the best student journalist I'd ever seen. I held her in such high regard that a compliment from her was the reason I applied to edit Opinions. She was a true embodiment of the heart and soul of the Observer and of journalism as a whole. Plus, she was always such a sweet, beaming ray of sunshine. My heart has been bleeding for her family and friends. This is really one of the greatest losses Fordham could possibly suffer.
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