STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Paul Walter Casali, 51, of Elm Park, a dedicated Staten Island political activist known for his humor, generosity and remarkable compassion, died Monday in his home.
Casali was said to have known “every Democrat on Staten Island,’’ and leaves behind a legacy of dedication to family, friends, community and causes he believed in, according to his friends.
Born in Sandusky, Ohio, Casali was drawn to the theater and made his way to New York City after attending Florida Atlantic University.
A life dedicated to public service
He settled on Staten Island, and though he stayed active in acting and continued his career in local theater and short films, he was ultimately drawn to a life dedicated to politics and public service.
Beginning in 1996, he held nearly every role on Staten Island Democratic campaigns — managing several of them. He most recently was the campaign manager for the re-election of New York City Councilmember Kamillah Hanks.
“Everyone at the office and campaign is devastated, Paul was more than our campaign manager, he was family,’’ Hanks said. ”We will desperately miss his intelligence, wit, grace and kindness in a world sorely in need of more of it.”
His strategic acumen in political messaging, voter targeting, and campaign operations helped shape local and national elections alike, according to those who’ve worked with him through the years.
Casali was trained in acting by Olympia Dukakis and trained in political theory by Gov. Michael Dukakis.
Casali was instrumental leading campaigns of Hanks, guiding her through historic primaries and re-elections, including the largest Ranked Choice Voting primary victory in Staten Island history, according to his former colleagues.
He served as president of the Democratic Organization of Richmond County and ran unsuccessfully for the unpaid position of Democratic District Leader on Staten Island.
He supported Richmond County District Attorney Michael McMahon during each of his three campaigns for the office, and was “dedicated to making our beloved borough a better place to call home for all Staten Islanders,’’ McMahon said.
‘An enduring legacy’
”Democracy is a participatory sport, and few understood this notion better than Paul,’’ the district attorney said. “His engagement in the political process and commitment to strengthening our democracy and encouraging Staten Islanders to exercise their right to vote is an enduring legacy that impacted all Staten Islanders.”
Casali has also worked with Fortune 500 companies, such as American Express and Ernst & Young as a consultant, and Citigroup as a project manager and business continuity/disaster recovery director.
Casali also helped lead campaigns for Ismael Malave, a 2025 primary candidate for New York City comptroller; Cliff Hagen, currently a candidate for the City Council seat on the South Shore; and state and national figures, including Bill Thompson, John Edwards, Hillary Clinton, and the Clinton/Gore re-election campaign.
Hagen said Casali was always willing to help throughout his South Shore special election campaign this past spring, taking on the position of field director.
He assisted with petition signatures, distributing literature, knocking on doors and phone banking for the special election and Hagen’s current run in the general election.
”I will always admire his active participation and his willingness to help‚’’ Hagen said.
Casali has served as budget and legislative director for Hanks and former State Senator and New York City Councilmember Vincent Gentile, overseeing the allocation of over $70 million in city funding and helping draft legislation aimed at improving his community.
Casali’s influence extended outside Staten Island, said Gentile, who served in the Senate from 1997 to 2002 and ran for Congress in Staten Island’s 11th congressional district in 2015.
“Paul was a friend, a multi-talented man who was great help to me on my campaigns on Staten Island,’’ he said. “Even though he was unknown, he was a hit in Brooklyn. His reach was beyond Staten Island.”
State Sen. Jessica Scarcella-Spanton said that Casali was a forever fixture in every phase of her career.
He was “a person I shared many laughs with, a person you could argue with and share a beer with later (or during, for more fun) and a person who was fiercely, fiercely loyal,” she said in a statement sent to the Advance/SILive.com.
‘He will be deeply missed’
Staten Island will never be the same, the senator said. “Paul has seen most of us at our best, at our worst and everywhere in between, and always accepted us for who we are,’’ she said. ”He will be deeply missed.”
Casali’s commitment extended far beyond politics, those who knew him said.
He was a passionate advocate for his neighbors, non-profit organizations, and the countless animals he cared for, from injured squirrels, turtles and birds to the stray cats he adopted.
He was a well-known and admired performer on local stages and in short films throughout the years, sharing his love of theater with all who knew him.
At the heart of Casali’s life was his family.
He cared for his beloved mother, Melinda Casali, until her death in 2024, and he honored the memory of his late father, Primo Casali, with the same devotion.
He was a music fan, and was particularly fond of Stevie Nicks and her band, Fleetwood Mac, his family said.
On Facebook, emotions ran high on Wednesday, as friends recalled Casali’s sense of humor, kindness and compassion.
“He loved animals, his family and friends, theatre, politics and, for some reason, the Cleveland Browns,’’ Michael Arvanites, a special advisor to Hanks and a friend of Casali since 1997, posted on the social media site. ”They don’t make them like Paul anymore.”
Casali is survived by his sister, Jennifer Casali-Philpo, and his niece, Ashley Philpo, both of Austin, Texas.
Funeral arrangements are pending, according to family.