Remembering Bob Castagnola

At Bob’s funeral on a quiet, sunny morning in the inviting warmth of St. Denis Church in Westwood, Mass., the gathered were reminded of Bob’s voice in the words he wrote just before dying, signing off as “Bob Castagnola, companion of justice.” Many recalled his lifelong, unwavering commitment to the less fortunate, his teaching years at Boston College in the Department of Social Work, and his passion for the Red Sox.

Bob Castagnola was with Voice of the Faithful in its earliest months. He came in to a meeting one crowded night, looked around and took a seat. He was just sitting there smiling when I introduced myself just before we started the meeting. In those days, we asked newcomers to do the same, introduce themselves and tell us why they’d come. I remember Bob standing up, still smiling, to say, “I just came over to see what was going on here.” I suppose he liked what he saw because he became a steady presence and dependable voice at our weekly meetings.

Bob had that unique gift of conviction with grace. He would always speak his mind succinctly, take his seat and continue listening – he represented the best model of dialogue a young movement could have; he will be both missed and remembered. Some of those memories follow:

From Jim Post:

Bob was an active, and treasured, member of Voice of the Faithful to which he devoted considerable energy and attention. As a member of the Council, and as a participant in countless discussions of structural change, Bob contributed much to Voice of the Faithful.

Bob was a true "gentle-man.” He cared deeply about the Church and the need to reform it through lay participation. He was a gifted teacher, and shared his insights with us in ways that touched the core of complex issues. Bob was wise in ways that I will always remember fondly. His sense of humor, so understated, cut to the essence of situations in ways that made us laugh and recognize the foolishness of our own humanity.

Bob's passing is a great loss to his family, to the Boston College community of which he was a part for many years, and to Voice of the Faithful. Please keep Bob and his family in your thoughts and prayers.

From Bob Ott:

While I didn't know Bob very well, there was that common bond of our being members of the Boston College School of Social Work, he as professor and I as student. We would get a chuckle out of some of the early debates of the Rep Council when we seemed to always take opposing points of view. Though I never had Bob as a teacher, he was respected greatly by his students. He was a gifted teacher, supportive supervisor/advisor, and committed to social justice through personal involvement.

My special memory of Bob is how comfortable we were with each other despite our differing viewpoints. I never felt any sense of frustration or annoyance from Bob after I would often rise to state an opposite point of view at the VOTF Council and he just as often did likewise. He often gave me food for thought but never did I experience his disapproval. Afterwards, we would have some brief follow-up discussion with mutual respect and good humor.

I pray for him and all of us in VOTF in the hope that we might remember his example of good will and respect for all, especially those of us who constantly differed with him. His example will serve VOTF well.

From Peggy Sullivan:

I remember Bob from many Council meetings, always standing up for his convictions, even when no one else had similar thoughts. I always had to admire him, and I think his is the "stuff" that good VOTF members are made of. He will be missed. God bless Bob!

From Alice Campanella:

I have fond memories of Bob at meetings. He always listened, and when he spoke he presented a new way to look at the subject. Whether you agreed with him or not, he made you reassess your thinking.

From Mary Ann Keyes:

I have great memories of Bob at our council meetings, especially our early ones. He had a way of telling it like it was, or at least should be. He was colorful (in his Red Sox jacket), direct and no-nonsense when it came to expressing his opinion. You couldn’t help but like him and I always respected the fact that he cared enough to give his input on what really mattered, most recently his views on national governance.

He was highly respected at BC and we, in Voice of the Faithful, were blessed to have known him and to be able to say he was one of us.

From Bob Pettiti:

Bob had a wooden "puzzle" on the shelf of his chalk board. At first glance it appeared to be an assembly of odd, wooden pieces but as you gazed at it you finally noticed that it spelled "Jesus." (Like many things, we finally see Jesus!) At a time when the presence of a classroom crucifix was a subject of debate in many a school, Bob made his own statement and stood by it.

[For [For a Boston Globe story on Bob Castagnola, click here.]