Charles Cassels, 93, planning assistant

Charles Trillia Cassels, a native of Argentina who was a retired municipal planning assistant, died Tuesday, Oct. 8, in Danbury. He was 93 years old.
Mr. Cassels was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on Jan. 13, 1909. He came to the United States in 1951 and became a naturalized citizen shortly thereafter.
He spent most of his later years in Rockland County, N.Y., where he was the administrative assistant to the town planner of Clarkstown.
In the mid-80s Mr. Cassels moved to Ridgefield to retire closer to his family. Mr. Cassels spent the last few years at Hancock Hall in Danbury where he died peacefully.
Mr. Cassels was an ardent traveler. He was fluent in several languages and enjoyed traveling to unusual places such as Ushuaia, the Galapagos Islands and to the Chilean Andes to photograph Halley’s Comet.
“Known for his storytelling, he is perhaps best remembered for espousing the seven T’s,” said his son, Dr. Christopher Cassels of Ridgefield. “Take the time to think things through.”
He loved playing the piano and listening to organ and chamber music. “Most of all, he loved people,” Dr. Cassels added.
Besides his son, who is an orthopaedic surgeon, Mr. Cassels is survived by his former wife and friend, Barbara Cassels of Ridgefield; a daughter, Lynne Bowes of Harrisburg, Pa.; a sister, Elvina Thomson of Spain; a daughter-in-law, Anne Marie Cassels; and three grandchildren, Sean and Kirk Cassels and Erika Bowes.
A memorial service is planned soon at St. Andrew's Lutheran Church. (Call the church office, 438-0606, for information.)
Mr. Cassels was involved in a study carried out by the Aging and Dementia Research Center at the New York University Hospital and was an avid supporter of the Alzheimer’s Association. Contributions in his memory may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association of Southern Connecticut, 911 Dixwell Avenue, Hamden, CT 06518.