Family raising awareness after Rockville Centre native dies from colorectal cancer at 39

Wherever he went, Dane Kasschau usually flashed a beaming smile. “His smile was a signature,” recalled his sister, Paige. “Regardless of what the situation was, Dane was always just beaming ear to ear with this gorgeous smile.”

Kasschau died on Jan. 25, at age 39, after a nine-month battle with Stage 4 colorectal cancer, but his family members said the impact he left on the community and those close to him will have a lasting effect.

Kasschau was born on Jan. 14, 1983, the third of four children of James and Eileen Kasschau. He had two older brothers, Jared and Brant, and Paige was the youngest. He grew up in Rockville Centre and attended South Side High School, where he became a captain of the varsity lacrosse team and graduated in 2001.

He played lacrosse and earned a marketing degree at Lehigh University, and got a master’s in taxation from Baruch College. After working in sales at two start-ups, he became a senior sales manager in client sales in the strategy group at Yahoo.

While at Lehigh, Kasschau met his future wife, Elaine “Lissy” King, and their relationship rekindled after they graduated over their mutual love of dogs. In 2010, they moved to Massachusetts, Elaine’s home state, living in Boston and then Dover. They were married on Sept. 13, 2014, and then had a daughter, Austin, 5, and a son, Jack, 2. Elaine was due to give birth to their second son as the Herald went to press.

“He was a born leader,” Jared Kasschau said of his brother. “He had one of those contagious personalities. He was someone you just wanted to be around all the time. He just had this way, I characterize it, if you’re walking in a crowded room where you didn’t know anybody there, you would look for Dane, because he’d make you feel like you’re at home. He just had this amazing ability of comforting those around him and making them feel at their very best.”

His brother Brant said Kasschau was his best friend.

“To say he was one of a kind is an understatement,” he said. “He was the best husband, father, son, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and teammate anyone could ask for.”

Kasschau’s siblings described him as someone who lived life to the fullest, was a great family man, was always prepared to help friends in need and was ultra-competitive, “but in a good way,” according to Paige. He enjoyed spending time in East Hampton and Cutchogue, was an avid runner and played golf, tennis and pickleball. His love for sports and the outdoors led him to become a counselor at Camp ANCHOR in the summers, and his family created “Dane’s Games” and “Kamp Kasschau" in his honor, organizing wiffle ball, basketball and other events and to raise money for worthy causes.

In addition to his smile, his siblings said Kasschau was known for his memory, which helped him connect with people..

Kasschau’s life was not without challenges. He had Crohn's disease, an inflammatory bowel disorder, and colitis, a chronic digestive disease. In May 2021 he was diagnosed with colorectal cancer, but his family said he remained positive, and was determined to do everything in his power to try and beat it. He underwent chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy treatments.

After the cancer was diagnosed, Jared and Paige ran the New York City Marathon in Dane’s honor last November, and raised more than $21,000 for the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. They have raised another $10,000 for a half-marathon in March in Dane’s memory. His siblings and wife have also partnered to raise awareness of Crohn's disease and colitis by creating the Dane Austin Kasschau Fund, which benefits the Chron’s and Colitis Foundation (see box).

“He was a warrior,” Jared said of Dane. “… He had a history with Chron’s and colitis, and so the ask is that you get tested early.”

Though Dane had moved away from Rockville Centre, the rest of his immediate family still lives in the village, and he had several friends in the area. In his memory, the Kasschaus hosted an event at the Tap Room last Friday, and more than 200 people attended. His former South Side lacrosse coach, Steve Dipietro presented his family with a framed Cyclones jersey with Dane’s number 7.

Paige described Dane as her rock, and said he was always helpful when she needed him. “Dane, sick or not sick, lived every day to its fullest,” she said. “He really didn’t let a moment go by where he wasn’t having a great time or just maximizing the day, and I think the message to folks is to just try and bring a little bit of Dane with you, remember that smile and just try to maximize your day, because you never know what tomorrow brings.”

To learn more about their fundraising efforts, visit bit.ly/3gayrS8, or bit.ly/3KX1XJb.