We were saddened by the loss of William N. Cassella, Jr., who passed away September 6, 2015. He ably held the post of executive director of the league from 1969 to 1985, a critical period of transition during which time the organization changed its name from the National Municipal League to the National Civic League to reflect its changing scope and mission.
A leading expert on issues related to county and regional governance, he received his PhD from Harvard and was a political science professor at the University of Missouri before joining the league staff. During his tenure, he coordinated the revision process for two editions of the Model City Charter (6th and 7th), served as senior adviser for the current 8th Edition and authored numerous articles for the National Civic Review.
An active participant in the civic life of the communities where he lived, he was a long serving member of the Westchester County Planning Board in New York, including a stint as chairman. He was also a member of the Greenburgh, New York Board of Education.
He was a former captain in the U.S. Naval Reserve and a veteran of World War II.
