Election slated to fill Rep. Casello's House seat
By Tao Woolfe
BOYNTON BEACH — Longtime firefighter and Florida state Rep. Joe Casello, D-Boynton Beach, who went from fighting fires to fighting for his constituents, died on July 18 from a heart attack. He was 73.
The popular politician, who previously served as a Boynton Beach city commissioner, will be missed.
Term limits prevented him from running for re-election in 2026, so Rep. Casello was planning to run for the Palm Beach County Commission, which was a longtime dream, said his friend and colleague Justin Katz, president of the Palm Beach County Classroom Teachers Association.
“He was 100% gung-ho about the Palm Beach County Commission, even though it would mean a lot more work. Nothing would have stopped him, except this,” Katz said.
Rep. Casello was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts. He joined the Worcester Fire Department in 1974, and was promoted to lieutenant in 1984. During his 33 years with the department, he served many roles, including as an arson investigator and as a liaison to the Massachusetts state Fire Marshal’s Office and the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The Worcester Fire Department posted a statement on its website announcing Rep. Casello’s death. It said in part: “Joe was dedicated to the Department, the Worcester community, and public service, and his contributions will surely be missed.”
Rep. Casello retired from the department and moved to Florida in 2009. He was first elected to the City Commission in 2013 and the state House in 2018.
“He served people all his life. He would meet with anybody on any issue, even if he completely disagreed with someone. He was a statesman who enjoyed interacting with people,” said Katz, who served with Rep. Casello on the Boynton Beach commission.
Nikki Fried, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, had similar observations.
“Joe Casello was the kind of public servant every community hopes for,” Fried said in a statement posted on the Florida Democratic Party website.
“As a firefighter for 33 years, he literally ran toward danger to protect others. As an Air Force veteran, he understood how important it was to serve selflessly. As a city commissioner and state legislator, he brought that same courage and steady leadership to the halls of government.”
She added, “Whether it was delivering for working families or making government more accessible, Joe always led with heart and common sense.”
The House Democratic Caucus also issued an obituary, saying Rep. Casello died “surrounded by his loving family and girlfriend.” It called him a champion for first responders, police and firefighters, as well as military veterans, saying, “He has sponsored legislation strengthening medical benefits for firefighters who contract cancer in the line of duty. He also worked with his colleagues to pass a joint resolution allowing the surviving spouses of deceased, disabled veterans to continue claiming the same tax credits to which their families were entitled before death.”
The son of a Navy World War II veteran, Rep. Casello served as a noncommissioned officer in the U.S. Air Force, installing radio transmission sites across the country. He was also an electrical contractor and owned Casello Electrical Services.
He volunteered his time to many organizations, including serving on the boards of the JFK Hospital and the Palm Beach County League of Cities; as president of the Knollwood Homeowners Association; and as a member of both the Palm Beach Sober Home Task Force and the Municipal Retirees Association.
“He just did lots of good,” Katz said.
The two men still met regularly at the Copperpoint Brewing Co., where the staff had nicknamed Rep. Casello’s favorite beer “The Commish,” Katz said.
The family has announced that a private ceremony will be held in Massachusetts. A public memorial service is yet to be announced.
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