Rev. Dr. Edward’s Obituary The Rev. Dr. Edward Wallington Castner died–with his characteristic grace, peace and beautiful smile–on March 20, 2019, surrounded by his loving family.
With a spirit of perseverance, hope and determination, Ned prevailed for five years over a diagnosis of metastatic pancreatic cancer. In his last weeks, Ned celebrated 60 years of marriage with the love of his life, Wanda Jane Finley Castner. Ned also celebrated 63 years of ordained ministry and leadership in the Presbyterian Church USA.
Ned was born in Chatham, NJ in 1932, and graduated from Tenafly High School in 1950. He received his B.A. degree from Cornell University in 1954, switching his major from pre-medical studies to philosophy. Ned continued studies at Union Theological School in New York City, receiving the B.D. degree in 1956 and the M. S. T. degree in 1972, where he studied with luminaries including Reinhold Niebuhr and Paul Tillich.
He later received a Doctorate in Ministry from Drew University in 1976. Following his ordination in the Presbyterian Church, Ned served churches in Beverly, Ohio; Plymouth, Michigan; Peekskill, NY; Glenside, PA; National Capital Presbytery, Washington, DC; Crofton, MD; and Old Lyme, CT. Ned was a poetic and philosophical preacher.
He was a passionate advocate for social justice and peacemaking, and was a gentle shepherd focused on pastoral care. He was proud of his accomplishments in interfaith efforts to build low-income and sustainable housing young families and seniors, as well as in establishing a city-wide health clinic, in Peekskill, NY. Ned was extraordinarily proud of his family: his wife Wanda, a reading specialist in elementary education; his daughter, The Rev.
Andrea Castner Wyatt (Rector of St. David’s Episcopal Church in Cranston, RI) and his son, Dr. Edward W. Castner, Jr. (Prof. of Chemistry at Rutgers). Ned was a wonderful father-in-law to Dr. Catherine L. Lawson and to Mr. Charles E. Wyatt, Jr. “Papa,” or “Grandpa” rejoiced in witnessing his four granddaughters mature into amazing, accomplished women.
Ed’s daughters are Elizabeth “Izzy” Anne Lawson Castner, a PhD Candidate at the University of California, Davis; and Julia Rose Lawson Castner, Bryn Mawr graduate and City Year Teaching Intern. Andrea’s daughters are Molly Jean Castner Wyatt, graduate of Clark University in Worcester, MA and Elementary Teacher in Worcester Public Schools; and Emma Ruby Castner Wyatt, junior at Clark University. In addition to the family mentioned above, Ned is survived by his brother John Castner and wife Karla, of Clarksville, MD, his sister-in-law Emily Shirley Castner of Worcester, MA, and their families.
Ned is predeceased by his brother Theodore, his mother Anna Wallington Castner and his father, Theodore Grant Castner. Ned lived simply, seeking the meaning of life and finding beauty in each day. He lived and loved well, with his beloved companion Wanda always at his side.
Ned was at peace on the water, fishing and boating. He nurtured tomatoes and tended gardens. Ned read widely in philosophy, poetry, theology, history – he finished reading a biography of his Cornell classmate Ruth Bader Ginsburg just before his death.
In retirement, he enjoyed vacations and keeping up with the global travels of his family, as well as working for Habitat for Humanity and the Library Board in Es, CT. Ned was active in a musical family, playing clarinet and tenor saxophone in his Tenafly, NJ hometown, as well as belonging to a Cornell University singing group. Though his external quiet, unassuming demeanor would suggest otherwise, Ned Castner was a giant of a man, leaving behind a lifetime of achievements in helping others and improving his small corner of the world.
Ned’s spirit, wisdom, and quiet guiding light live on in the many lives he touched. A celebration of Ned’s life will be held 11 AM, Saturday, March 30, 2019 at the First Presbyterian Church of New Haven; 704 Whitney Ave. , New Haven, CT.
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