David Casiles

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution announces with great sorrow the death of retiree David Casiles in Falmouth on February 15.  He was 83. 

Dave was born in Hempstead, NY, on October 20, 1927. He attended school in Falmouth, MA, Lochwinnoch, Scotland, and a one-room schoolhouse on Naushon Island, MA.

In 1944, Dave began a lifelong maritime career with the completion of USMS training in Sheepshead Bay, NY. He served on a variety of Liberty Ships in the North Atlantic and Mediterranean Sea during WWII.

Dave began his career at WHOI in 1947 as a seaman aboard the R/V Mentor, a ship that was leased to WHOI by the Navy.  During his 42-year career at WHOI, Dave worked onboard many WHOI research vessels including the Caryn, Asterias, Chain, Crawford, Gosnold, Atlantis II, Oceanus, and Knorr in various capacities from seaman, bosun, second mate, first mate, to captain. He retired in 1989 but came back on a casual basis until 1997 as relief captain onboard the Oceanus and Knorr.

Dave was married to Phyllis Casiles, a WHOI retiree who pre-deceased him in 2003. He is survived by his sister, Ann Henry of Falmouth; a son, David R. Casiles, daughter in-law Martha, and granddaughter Allison, all of North Falmouth, MA.

A memorial service will be held on March 1, at 1:00 p.m., at Chapman, Cole & Gleason Funeral Home, 584 West Falmouth Highway, West Falmouth, MA.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the General Education Fund, in memory of Captain David F. Casiles, WHOI, Fenno House MS #40, Woods Hole, MA 02543.

Some of the information for this obituary was taken from the Cape Cod Times.