Dr. James J. Caserio was known for stressing the value of hard work and a good education and for making certain all his dental patients left his office with a smile, said his daughter, Dr. Rebecca Caserio.
"He had a big box in his office filled with plastic rings. All the area children knew that after their exam, they could pick a ring from the ring box," she said. "He was so outgoing, he always put his patients at ease just by his demeanor."
Dr. Caserio, of Jeannette, Westmoreland County, a University of Pittsburgh graduate who practiced dentistry for more than 40 years, died of congestive heart failure Monday, Oct. 23, 2006, at his son's home in Flat Rock, N.C. He was 87.
He was born May 25, 1919, to Italian immigrants in Herminie, Westmoreland County, and graduated from Jeannette High School in 1937. As secretary of his high school class, he was charged with planning reunions every 10 years.
Dr. Caserio graduated from the University of Kansas in 1941, returned home and enrolled in the University of Pittsburgh School of Dentistry.
During one of the many train rides back and forth to Pitt, he met his wife of 60 years, Jolanda Denale.
After graduating from Pitt in 1944, Dr. Caserio married and then served in World War II as a dental captain in the South Pacific theater and in Japan.
"He would always tell us how beautiful Japan was," his daughter said.
During the 1950s, Dr. Caserio fulfilled a lifelong dream when he set up his private dental practice on Clay Avenue in Jeannette.
For nearly 30 years Dr. Caserio poured his life into his practice, working long hours five days a week, three nights a week and all day on Saturdays so he could see the school children, Rebecca Caserio said. He retired about 20 years ago.
"He instilled in us the value of hard work, studying hard, keeping your nose to the grindstone," Rebecca Caserio said. "He always said to us, 'Go with the flow and roll with punches.'"
Dr. James Caserio Jr. said his father took great pride in his Italian heritage and impressed upon him to do something important with his life.
"He came from a people that didn't have money, land or property. He taught us to work from the ground up. I owe everything I am to that," he said.
That, and good teeth: James Caserio said he still brushes and flosses his teeth three times a day because of his father.
To help market his practice, Dr. Caserio served as a school dentist, traveling to all the schools in Jeannette and nearby communities such as Harrison City to perform routine checkups on the children.
Dr. Caserio is survived by a daughter, Dr. Rebecca Caserio, of Oakland; a son, Dr. James J. Caserio Jr., of Flat Rock, N.C.; and three grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Jolanda Denale Caserio; a sister, Lena Marchetti; and a brother, Joseph Caserio.
Visitation is scheduled from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the John V. Graziano Funeral Home Inc., 228 N. Second St., Jeannette.
A funeral service is to be celebrated at 11 a.m. Saturday at Ascension Church, 615 Division St., Jeannette, with the Rev. John M. Foriska as celebrant. Burial will follow in Twin Valley Memorial Park, Delmont.
