In Memoriam: Casey Paul August

April 7, 1943 – March 12, 2021

IPIC wishes to offer its condolences following the passing of Casey Paul August, a long-time member of the Institute for 45 years and President of PTIC (now IPIC) from 1983-1984. Casey passed away peacefully on March 12, 2021 surrounded by family at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut due to complications arising from bladder cancer.  

Casey was born on the 7th of April in 1943 as Kestutis Paulius Augustinavičius in Telšiai, Lithuania to Jadvyga and Petras Augustinavičius.  As a very young boy, Casey emigrated to Canada with his family after being forced to leave his home country during the Russian invasion of Lithuania prior to World War II. As a young boy, Casey learned grit, ingenuity but also kindness while living with his extended family in a small wooden shed on a hillside in Bludenz, Austria. A local farmer empathized with the plight of Casey's family and allowed them to stay as they awaited passage to North America. These years formed strong lifelong bonds between Casey, his family and his cousins (Tony, George, Rasa).

Casey's family eventually settled in Toronto, Canada, where Casey graduated Valedictorian from his high school, De la Salle College, and later from the University of Waterloo with a degree in Math, Physics and Chemistry. Casey enjoyed regaling friends and family with stories of how he funded his university education through card games.

Shortly after graduating, Casey met Eileen (née Naujokas) at a dance in a local Lithuanian church. Neither had wanted to attend, but had done so at the insistence of their mothers. After they met, Casey and Eileen became inseparable and were married shortly after on December 17, 1964.   Casey and Eileen welcomed three sons: Mark Jason, Jonas Michael and Justin Paul. Together, Casey and Eileen created a wonderful life and developed a true partnership. They built four houses in Toronto, two cottages on the Muskoka lakes and, after relocating to the US for Casey's work, three houses in Greenwich, CT. They traveled the world together, including epic journeys to Machu Picchu, Galapagos, India, Nepal, Israel, Southeast Asia, Borneo, Africa, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, most of Europe, South America, China, Egypt, Russia and, of course, Lithuania. Casey had a keen appreciation for nature and, for many years also enjoyed a yearly camping trip with his childhood friend Peter Karm to the Canadian Arctic where they were dropped off by floatplane into the pristine wilderness for a week-long 'man vs. nature' adventure.

Casey was a lover of art, first as a collector and then as a painter. He developed friendships with local artists during the long weeks he spent in South America for work and, later, in retirement, he painted regularly and took art classes. Family members and friends were routinely thrilled to receive portraits of their likenesses and other paintings as special gifts from Casey.   

Always interested in science, engineering and ideas, Casey translated his early interest for space flight into a career working at IBM, where he protected engineering research through patents and copyright. Throughout Casey's tenure at IBM, he was able to influence the development of law relating to the protection of software. Casey was a leader in the Intellectual Property (IP) field in Canada, serving as active member and president of the Canadian Patent and Trademark Institute (now Intellectual Property Institute of Canada) and leading the IP function for IBM in Canada and, following his move to Greenwich, CT, the Americas.

Casey was a kind and compassionate man, always willing to listen and generous with his time and insightful advice on a wide array of topics to people from all walks of life, including with those suffering from prostrate cancer. After living and overcoming various forms of cancer for many years, Casey passed away peacefully from complications related to bladder cancer at Greenwich Hospital on the 12th of March 2021. He was predeceased by his parents and older brother Al August (Irene). He is survived by his loving wife Eileen, his younger brother Michael Augustinavičius (Sylvia), sons Jason (Shannon), Jonas (Sharon), and Justin (Sophie), grandchildren Casey, Olivia, Eva, Pierre, and Françoise, his beloved cousins, family members and friends. Casey was taken from us well before his time and will be missed.

A memorial service will be scheduled later this year, when COVID-19 restrictions allow.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Prostrate Cancer Foundation www.pcf.org.