Answering the Call — Continued

AFSCME members are still being called to active duty. Here are some additions to Public Employee's July/August list.

California Council 57, Local 101: JOHN BLUMENSON; Illinois Council 31, Local 2758: LARRY CLOVER JR; Pennsylvania Council 88, Local 2149: JAMES BROWN; Rhode Island Council 94, Local 528: JOHN DEFEO; Local 2392: WILLIAM GRZEBIEN and PAUL TRUPPI; Local 2409: ROBERT BROWN and CARL CIAMPANELLI; Local 2448: JONATHAN ISSA; Local 2881: THOMAS CAMPBELL and PETER WOOD; Local 2886: THOMAS NORTHUP JR. and KRISTYN ORSINI.

Death in Iraq

Capt. Paul J. Cassidy, an AFSCME member, died in Iraq on July 13 of non-combat injuries. Cassidy belonged to Michigan Local 1390 (Council 25), and worked as department secretary for the clerk of Meridian Township. Co-workers described him as "an incredibly dedicated, detail-oriented, phenomenal employee."

This was Cassidy's fourth deployment with the U.S. Army Reserves humanitarian services. He had also served in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo. He is survived by his wife, Susan, and their 10-month-old son, Colin.       

"Paul was working very hard on restoring the sewer and water systems in Al Hillah," Maj. Jeff Ponkratz wrote in an e-mail to Susan. "We want Colin to know how hard his dad worked and how many lives he has helped."