Casimir Figlewicz Obituary

May the love of friends and family carry you through your grief.

im sorry for your lost i met him one time a long time ago jesse r garza lasvegas

I'm still trying to take in the fact that Cas is no longer walking around on this earth with us. There was a lot I didn't know about him, and I've been enjoying finding out what he was up to-- what I've learned is that he was a steward of the earth and of human beings, so his loss is a great one. I guess I already knew that. I will miss sitting zazen with him at Ancient Dragon. Please take care of yourself, Cas.

Cas was a wonderful person and a tireless volunteer with a wickedly dry sense of humor that always made me smile. He first found the North Pond Conservation Council in 2002 after I put a recruitment flyer up on a local store's community bulletin board. He soon became one of our most caring volunteers helping in any way he could, whether it was stuffing envelopes or gardening. I remember one Earth Day when we began our volunteer workday in the park by standing in a circle and saying why each of us were participating at North Pond. Cas said "Because I love North Pond." Those simple words of honest affection have always stayed with me. Last year, he volunteered on a moment's notice when a micro-burst downed and damaged many trees in the park and our volunteers ran out the next day to pick-up after the storm. I also recall fondly how proud he was of his work for Lincoln Park. He had volunteered for a new initiative by the Chicago Park District to increase a species of disappearing native birds. He volunteered to tend one of the birdhouses. When a newspaper wrote about the program, they interviewed Cas and spoke about his dedicated work. He was so proud, he sent me a short note with a copy of the article. I thought it was cute, because Cas was never the sort of guy to toot his own horn; he just quietly did things he loved. I'll never forget Cas or the way he walked around North Pond with his backpack and his pipe -- always taking time to stop along the way to appreciate the flowers. It's an example we should all follow. God Bless You, Cas. You will be missed.

Casimir wholeheartedly devoted himself to helping others and studying life. Cas seemed always to have been part of Ancient Dragon Zen Gate - sitting upright, asking questions, and bringing delicious cakes to our sangha gatherings. I feel fortunate to have shared some of this life with Cas and miss him deeply. My warmest sympathies to all who shared his life, benefited from his kindness, and mourn his loss.

I'm so sorry to hear of Casimir's passing, he was a grounding presence at Ancient Dragon. He was one of the most direct and genuine people I'd ever met, and I'm truly saddened to hear this news. My deepest sympathies to family and friends.

I am very saddened to just have learned of Cas's passing (2/27). For the last few years Cas has been a faithful participant in our Ancient Dragon Zen Gate meditation group, and a former member of our Board. He was a kind, dedicated person, with incisive wit and intellect. He asked difficult but illuminating questions and was extremely helpful to all in our community in many ways. We will miss him very much, for his helping to ring the bell at services, for his cheerful manner, for his consistent aid in setting up for our meetings, for the cakes he brought to community pot-lucks, for his deep wisdom, and for his many other gifts. We will hold a Zen memorial service for him next Monday night, March 2, 7:50 pm, at the Cenacle Retreat Center, 513 W. Fullerton Parkway (near Clark).

Casimir and I met first in early 2005, just sitting. Casimir's intense intellectual curiousity showed itself immediately - we spent some time wondering about differences between two alternative translations of a very old Buddhist teaching. Later, Casimir borrowed some really challenging stuff - 10 hours of recordings of lectures by Alan Watts, a number of recordings of Thich Nhat Hahn - and listened to/read all of it quickly, and wanted to talk about it. He devoured it. I couldn't bear to tell him that I never did listen to some of things he borrowed.

Whenever I'd ask what he'd been up to, he'd tell me about how he'd just done volunteer work someplace - or two places. Casimir was the kind of guy who was willing to stay awake all night at a homeless shelter in order to let people in need sleep. He never brought it up on his own, though - he kept his altruism to himself.

Most recently, Casimir spent some time telling me about a class he took in Buddhist studies at University of Chicago. He was also a very empathic listener about some issues that arose recently in my life.

I will always remember some of the questions that Casimir raised in our meditation group - he was quick to see inconsistencies and very willing to point them out, often with a subtle and very Chicago-style sense of humor. Once, after we'd covered 90 minutes of very difficult material, our teacher asked if anyone had one final question in closing? Casimir asked "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"

My hands are clapping for Casimir.

Dearest Maurine,
My hearts and thoughts are with you and your loving family. Please let me know if there's anything I can do for you. God Bless

To the dear family of Casimir,
I am a regular volunteer at the Garfield Park Conservatory and have had the pleasure of working with Casimir for the past few years on Tuesdays. What a noble and good man. I am so happy to have known him and I am very sorry to hear of his passing. I know all of us will miss him this summer in the Demonstration Garden as we plant and water. Please accept my sincere condolences. We plan to have a memorial spot for him in our Demo garden this year.
Suzi Pagadala

Maurine, please know that deepest thought of deepest symapthy and love are with you. I know this is a difficult tme of mourning and grief; please take some comfort as Cas is rejoicing now at the throne of God.

Maurine,
Vito told me Cas passed away.I wanted to tell you you're in my prayers and thoughts.
I haven't been down to the city in awhile,but next time I am I will come see you at Walgreens.Take care of yourself.

Melanie,
My sincere condolences to your family. I know this was a sudden shock for your family. I hope that you may find peace in this difficult time. You remain in my thoughts and prayers.

Dear Maurine, you and Casmir are in our hearts and prayers at this very sad time, our deepest condolences to you and your loved ones!!

Love,
Myles and Bryan

2/9/08

Cas was a funny and much respected and liked guy at Ignatius. He had a dry, perhaps a little offbeat, sense of humor that brought a smile to many of our faces during the often long, and what might have been otherwise humor-starved days at school. I haven’t seen Cas since we left Ignatius nearly 32 years ago, but he’s one of the guys I’ll never forget.

For some reason, I think of Cas when I remember Greg Klatecki, our biology teacher, and Father Wiz (Stan Wisniewski), our English teacher, and the connection is more than ethnic. Klatecki would always seem to single out one student for good natured ribbing, and often it was Cas, who could parry with the best of them. Father Wiz always seemed to respect Cas’s intelligence and wit.

Cas, Maurine, and the entire family will remain in our prayers.


Mark Quinn