JOHN D. CASE SR., EX-PRISON WARDEN IN BUCKS COUNTY: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - November 7, 1990
Deceased Name: JOHN D. CASE SR., EX-PRISON WARDEN IN BUCKS COUNTY
Maj. John D. Case Sr., 68, an empathetic former warden of the Bucks County Prison whose philosophy was "We are in the salvage business - not the junk business," died Sunday at his Doylestown home.
"The major," as he was known to friends, was no liberal softie. The ex- Marine and former Fordham University football star stood 6-foot-6, weighed 250 pounds and wore a size 13 ring.
"He had a very imposing presence," said U.S. District Judge Edmund Ludwig, a longtime friend. "He would stand up, roll his eyes and say, 'I'm just a country jail warden.' But he was full of enthusiasm, and you could just tell that he believed in the possibility that even criminals could change their behavior and become responsible members of the community."
The major, a former Marine Corps prison commander who often quoted Oscar Wilde and Robert Burns, served as Bucks County warden from 1962 to 1977. He once referred to the prison, a 19th-century Gothic-style stone fortress topped with barbed wire, as a "Medieval, monolithic, middle-age, monkey-cage monstrosity."
The major opened the cage. In 1964, he planned and opened what was hailed as the nation's first work-release program. He also opened the prison to the community, allowing psychologists, teachers and civilian volunteers into the prison. In 1970, he helped found Today Inc., an alternative-to-prison program that treats alcoholism and drug addiction in young people.
"He was the type of man who touched people in the most dramatic way," said his daughter, Cecilia E. Bailey. "He just had the greatest compassion for people, and he was always able to see good in any type of individual."
Among the awards the major received for his work was the 1976 Liberty Bell Award from the Young Lawyers' Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
The major continued to work on behalf of inmates after he resigned as warden in 1977.
From 1977 until 1985, Major Case worked as field director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, a group that lobbies for better conditions for inmates.
"I'm not a bleeding heart," he said in a 1977 interview. "I'm a former Marine who believes that a person should change men, not chain them."
Some of the major's empathy for inmates may have come from his understanding of his own frailties. He resigned as warden because of health problems complicated by alcoholism. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous and often appeared as a speaker at AA meetings. He also stayed sober the rest of his life, his daughter said.
During the last five years, Major Case worked as a correctional consultant, testifying around the country in court cases involving prison overcrowding. In Lehigh County, he served as a federal mediator in one dispute over overcrowded jail conditions. He also served as a prison master for the U.S. Middle District Court.
During his last years, Major Case did not change his mind about the possibilities for rehabilitating inmates.
"He was absolutely convinced that what he was doing was right," Ludwig said. "The idea of rehabilitation that he exemplified is gone. People don't believe in that anymore."
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, the former Agnes M. Boyle; sons, John D. Jr. and Frank; daughters, Mary E. Case, Kathleen Baker, Pauline Glowatz and Susanne M. Sulby; a brother; a sister, and nine grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, East State Street, Doylestown. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church. Burial will be in at Doylestown Cemetery, Doylestown.
Memorial contributions can be made to Today Inc., Woodbourne Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940.
Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - November 7, 1990
Deceased Name: JOHN D. CASE SR., EX-PRISON WARDEN IN BUCKS COUNTY
Maj. John D. Case Sr., 68, an empathetic former warden of the Bucks County Prison whose philosophy was "We are in the salvage business - not the junk business," died Sunday at his Doylestown home.
"The major," as he was known to friends, was no liberal softie. The ex- Marine and former Fordham University football star stood 6-foot-6, weighed 250 pounds and wore a size 13 ring.
"He had a very imposing presence," said U.S. District Judge Edmund Ludwig, a longtime friend. "He would stand up, roll his eyes and say, 'I'm just a country jail warden.' But he was full of enthusiasm, and you could just tell that he believed in the possibility that even criminals could change their behavior and become responsible members of the community."
The major, a former Marine Corps prison commander who often quoted Oscar Wilde and Robert Burns, served as Bucks County warden from 1962 to 1977. He once referred to the prison, a 19th-century Gothic-style stone fortress topped with barbed wire, as a "Medieval, monolithic, middle-age, monkey-cage monstrosity."
The major opened the cage. In 1964, he planned and opened what was hailed as the nation's first work-release program. He also opened the prison to the community, allowing psychologists, teachers and civilian volunteers into the prison. In 1970, he helped found Today Inc., an alternative-to-prison program that treats alcoholism and drug addiction in young people.
"He was the type of man who touched people in the most dramatic way," said his daughter, Cecilia E. Bailey. "He just had the greatest compassion for people, and he was always able to see good in any type of individual."
Among the awards the major received for his work was the 1976 Liberty Bell Award from the Young Lawyers' Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
The major continued to work on behalf of inmates after he resigned as warden in 1977.
From 1977 until 1985, Major Case worked as field director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, a group that lobbies for better conditions for inmates.
"I'm not a bleeding heart," he said in a 1977 interview. "I'm a former Marine who believes that a person should change men, not chain them."
Some of the major's empathy for inmates may have come from his understanding of his own frailties. He resigned as warden because of health problems complicated by alcoholism. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous and often appeared as a speaker at AA meetings. He also stayed sober the rest of his life, his daughter said.
During the last five years, Major Case worked as a correctional consultant, testifying around the country in court cases involving prison overcrowding. In Lehigh County, he served as a federal mediator in one dispute over overcrowded jail conditions. He also served as a prison master for the U.S. Middle District Court.
During his last years, Major Case did not change his mind about the possibilities for rehabilitating inmates.
"He was absolutely convinced that what he was doing was right," Ludwig said. "The idea of rehabilitation that he exemplified is gone. People don't believe in that anymore."
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, the former Agnes M. Boyle; sons, John D. Jr. and Frank; daughters, Mary E. Case, Kathleen Baker, Pauline Glowatz and Susanne M. Sulby; a brother; a sister, and nine grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, East State Street, Doylestown. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church. Burial will be in at Doylestown Cemetery, Doylestown.
Memorial contributions can be made to Today Inc., Woodbourne Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940.
JOHN D. CASE SR., EX-PRISON WARDEN IN BUCKS COUNTY: Newspaper Obituary and Death Notice
Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - November 7, 1990
Deceased Name: JOHN D. CASE SR., EX-PRISON WARDEN IN BUCKS COUNTY
Maj. John D. Case Sr., 68, an empathetic former warden of the Bucks County Prison whose philosophy was "We are in the salvage business - not the junk business," died Sunday at his Doylestown home.
"The major," as he was known to friends, was no liberal softie. The ex- Marine and former Fordham University football star stood 6-foot-6, weighed 250 pounds and wore a size 13 ring.
"He had a very imposing presence," said U.S. District Judge Edmund Ludwig, a longtime friend. "He would stand up, roll his eyes and say, 'I'm just a country jail warden.' But he was full of enthusiasm, and you could just tell that he believed in the possibility that even criminals could change their behavior and become responsible members of the community."
The major, a former Marine Corps prison commander who often quoted Oscar Wilde and Robert Burns, served as Bucks County warden from 1962 to 1977. He once referred to the prison, a 19th-century Gothic-style stone fortress topped with barbed wire, as a "Medieval, monolithic, middle-age, monkey-cage monstrosity."
The major opened the cage. In 1964, he planned and opened what was hailed as the nation's first work-release program. He also opened the prison to the community, allowing psychologists, teachers and civilian volunteers into the prison. In 1970, he helped found Today Inc., an alternative-to-prison program that treats alcoholism and drug addiction in young people.
"He was the type of man who touched people in the most dramatic way," said his daughter, Cecilia E. Bailey. "He just had the greatest compassion for people, and he was always able to see good in any type of individual."
Among the awards the major received for his work was the 1976 Liberty Bell Award from the Young Lawyers' Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
The major continued to work on behalf of inmates after he resigned as warden in 1977.
From 1977 until 1985, Major Case worked as field director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, a group that lobbies for better conditions for inmates.
"I'm not a bleeding heart," he said in a 1977 interview. "I'm a former Marine who believes that a person should change men, not chain them."
Some of the major's empathy for inmates may have come from his understanding of his own frailties. He resigned as warden because of health problems complicated by alcoholism. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous and often appeared as a speaker at AA meetings. He also stayed sober the rest of his life, his daughter said.
During the last five years, Major Case worked as a correctional consultant, testifying around the country in court cases involving prison overcrowding. In Lehigh County, he served as a federal mediator in one dispute over overcrowded jail conditions. He also served as a prison master for the U.S. Middle District Court.
During his last years, Major Case did not change his mind about the possibilities for rehabilitating inmates.
"He was absolutely convinced that what he was doing was right," Ludwig said. "The idea of rehabilitation that he exemplified is gone. People don't believe in that anymore."
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, the former Agnes M. Boyle; sons, John D. Jr. and Frank; daughters, Mary E. Case, Kathleen Baker, Pauline Glowatz and Susanne M. Sulby; a brother; a sister, and nine grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, East State Street, Doylestown. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church. Burial will be in at Doylestown Cemetery, Doylestown.
Memorial contributions can be made to Today Inc., Woodbourne Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940.
Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA) - November 7, 1990
Deceased Name: JOHN D. CASE SR., EX-PRISON WARDEN IN BUCKS COUNTY
Maj. John D. Case Sr., 68, an empathetic former warden of the Bucks County Prison whose philosophy was "We are in the salvage business - not the junk business," died Sunday at his Doylestown home.
"The major," as he was known to friends, was no liberal softie. The ex- Marine and former Fordham University football star stood 6-foot-6, weighed 250 pounds and wore a size 13 ring.
"He had a very imposing presence," said U.S. District Judge Edmund Ludwig, a longtime friend. "He would stand up, roll his eyes and say, 'I'm just a country jail warden.' But he was full of enthusiasm, and you could just tell that he believed in the possibility that even criminals could change their behavior and become responsible members of the community."
The major, a former Marine Corps prison commander who often quoted Oscar Wilde and Robert Burns, served as Bucks County warden from 1962 to 1977. He once referred to the prison, a 19th-century Gothic-style stone fortress topped with barbed wire, as a "Medieval, monolithic, middle-age, monkey-cage monstrosity."
The major opened the cage. In 1964, he planned and opened what was hailed as the nation's first work-release program. He also opened the prison to the community, allowing psychologists, teachers and civilian volunteers into the prison. In 1970, he helped found Today Inc., an alternative-to-prison program that treats alcoholism and drug addiction in young people.
"He was the type of man who touched people in the most dramatic way," said his daughter, Cecilia E. Bailey. "He just had the greatest compassion for people, and he was always able to see good in any type of individual."
Among the awards the major received for his work was the 1976 Liberty Bell Award from the Young Lawyers' Division of the Pennsylvania Bar Association.
The major continued to work on behalf of inmates after he resigned as warden in 1977.
From 1977 until 1985, Major Case worked as field director for the Pennsylvania Prison Society, a group that lobbies for better conditions for inmates.
"I'm not a bleeding heart," he said in a 1977 interview. "I'm a former Marine who believes that a person should change men, not chain them."
Some of the major's empathy for inmates may have come from his understanding of his own frailties. He resigned as warden because of health problems complicated by alcoholism. He joined Alcoholics Anonymous and often appeared as a speaker at AA meetings. He also stayed sober the rest of his life, his daughter said.
During the last five years, Major Case worked as a correctional consultant, testifying around the country in court cases involving prison overcrowding. In Lehigh County, he served as a federal mediator in one dispute over overcrowded jail conditions. He also served as a prison master for the U.S. Middle District Court.
During his last years, Major Case did not change his mind about the possibilities for rehabilitating inmates.
"He was absolutely convinced that what he was doing was right," Ludwig said. "The idea of rehabilitation that he exemplified is gone. People don't believe in that anymore."
Besides his daughter, he is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, the former Agnes M. Boyle; sons, John D. Jr. and Frank; daughters, Mary E. Case, Kathleen Baker, Pauline Glowatz and Susanne M. Sulby; a brother; a sister, and nine grandchildren.
A viewing will be held from 10 to 11 a.m. tomorrow at Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, East State Street, Doylestown. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial at 11 a.m. tomorrow at the church. Burial will be in at Doylestown Cemetery, Doylestown.
Memorial contributions can be made to Today Inc., Woodbourne Road, Newtown, Pa. 18940.
Bio by: Ellen Johnson
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