“The thing that sticks with me most about Steve is that he remembered my name more than 20 years after graduation. He was always there with a smile during all the ups and downs of Hillsdale College life. He will be remembered fondly.”
— Leo Bingley ’87
When I was a junior at Hillsdale and dating fellow student Aaron, while he was deployed to Fallujah, Iraq. We tried keeping our letters and rare phone calls upbeat, and I tried focusing fully on school, but I never figured out how to forget that someone I loved was on the other side of the world and getting shot at on a regular basis. One lunch, I handed my meal card to Steve at the cafeteria entrance, and when he mentioned that he was praying for Aaron (as he did at least once a week), he handed me an article he had read about the emotional toll war takes on loved ones back home. While I don’t remember that article being particularly noteworthy, Steve’s kind gesture certainly was. His small act of compassion was grace to me in those dark days. The truest expression of hospitality is to acknowledge another person and welcome them without pretense, which is exactly what Steve offered me that day, and I remember his kindness whenever I think about that part of my Hillsdale experience. Now Aaron and I are grateful to be married with a growing family, and we celebrate Steve’s legacy of faithful kindness and hospitality, which was an unexpectedly integral part of our time at Hillsdale College.
—Abby (Portice) and Aaron Hummel, ‘08
“After a year and a half of swiping me into meals, Steve paused one evening before handing me my I.D. He looked me in the eye and congratulated me on a theatre performance the week before.
I was taken aback. The routine of exchanging merely polite but largely impersonal greetings was broken, never to return. Within a week, Steve knew my name and my entry into the dining hall became a regular source of joy. He was always curious to know about the next concert or play, always promising to attend everything. And with very few exceptions, he did.
Right before a big test, the opening night of a play, or the weekend of a choir concert, Steve would always ask me how I was holding up and listen patiently to my anxieties. After I finished he would always smile wide, tell me I’d be fine, and pipe, “I certainly wish you the best of success!”
Steve gave every ounce of his energy to this school, and to the generations of students who passed through his door every day. For a man who performed an often thankless job, all I have is gratitude and admiration.
Thank you, Steve.”
— Senior Matt Sauer
Saga Steve had a smile that would light up the world. He always had a smile and a kind word for everyone. One year, I wrote him a Christmas Card thanking him for his kindness, and he sent back to me the most beautiful card I had ever received, thanking me for MY card! I remember it to this day, all these years later! He touched my life with his kindness. He will be missed.
— Megan (Forrester) Kuczynski ’90
I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear of my friend, Stephen Casai’s passing.
Steve was one of the most dedicated, loyal, selfless, joyful, humble, service-oriented and caring people I have ever met. He served others with excellence and earned the respect from a multitude of people. When we would walk into the cafeteria, we knew that Steve would say, “Hello, Thank you. Enjoy your meal.” We would often forget our meal tickets, and were amazed at how he had memorized our numbers and names. He didn’t own a car and could often been seen walking all over town.
Steve had a tireless work ethic: He would wake up at 4:30am each day with prayer, exercise and Bible study. He was witty and loved to joke around with those who he knew best.
In an interview, Steve said he considered his job there as “a blessing from the Lord,” and never once a burden. Steve knew that “true friendship is true service,” and what it meant to serve well– always with a smile on his face. The little things Steve did in his lifetime mean so much to those of us who knew him now. Genuine humility is beautiful and attractive, and he exemplified it, as we should more often too.
I had the honor of visiting with him several times during his illness, often bringing cards, flowers that others had asked me to bring along. On my most recent visit, he was in a wheelchair and I helped him to the the cafeteria for our last conversation.
Steve’s life and legacy are a true blessing, and he was a godly man of great faith and a beautiful soul who went to his eternal home knowing that he was an inspiration to so many. I now rest in the blessed assurance that he is with our Lord and Savior now, and hope that he greets many of us again in Heaven someday. He fought the good fight, kept the faith, and finished the race. He was indeed beloved. Now that he is no longer with us, there will always be a void there for all of us who had the honor of knowing him.
Rest in peace Steve, and thank you for sharing with all of us the Love of Christ.
— Greg McLogan
I was probably the last one into breakfast every day spring of freshman year. One day, I arrived to find the doors shut, and I stood in front of them angry at myself for not waking up earlier. Steve, even though his shift had ended, saw me, opened the door, and swiped me in.
“Have a good day,” he said.
It already was.
— Sophomore Brendan Clarey
Steve was and always will be a staple member of our family here and his absence is consistently felt. Steve was a constant in my time at Hillsdale, and I am not alone. He draws class upon class of students together as a shared memory, a faithful support, and a kind daily presence. Once when I gave tours to families of prospective students and parents over one summer, a parent spotted Saga Steve sitting in the Union from a distance and exclaimed, “Is that Saga Steve?” and rushed over to say hello. She was an alumna and had graduated many years ago. Recognizable for his fidelity, kindness, and smile, among other things, Saga Steve remains a unifying part of the time of so many at Hillsdale. He is and will be deeply missed.
— Anna Saewert ‘12
