USA – The Central Board and all of zones of Deaf International Basketball Federation (DIBF) offer their condolences on the passing of former ICSD Technical Director and Deaf Referee Richard E. Caswell.

We are deeply saddened by his death. Richard’s oldest daughter, named Britt Caswell Carney, wrote the obituary which can be read below.

Following Roger Lonnoy (Belgium), who led basketball competitions as Technical Director at the World Games for the Deaf (now called Deaflympics) three times, Richard “Dick” Caswell was the second Technical Director appointed. He organised basketball competitions at the World Games for the Deaf six times, from 1977 in Bucharest, Romania to 1997 in Copenhagen, Denmark. This was the greatest number of games organised by any Technical Director. Prior to this role he was a Deaf Referee at the World Games for the Deaf in Malmö, Sweden in 1973, the second Deaf Referee ever.

Richard attended the 2018 U21 World Championships for Boys and Girls in Washington DC, USA an honored guest. There he shared his knowledge and experiences with the current Technical Director Jürgen Endress. He had so much to share regarding the development of deaf basketball, “Basketball today and then”, etc. Of course, many funny stories and memories were included in the exchange.

Richard was a very loving athlete and leader who linked his life to sports, especially basketball and golf. Our heartfelt condolences go to the Caswell family as well as the whole basketball community who feel this great loss. We are all blessed to have known him.


Obituary of Richard E. Caswell

Richard Eugene “Dick” Caswell, 89, passed away peacefully on 24 January 2020. He was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota on September 3, 1930, to Thomas and Frances (Taylor) Caswell. He was raised in Brainerd, MN and attended the Minnesota School for the Deaf in Faribault, MN.

While attending MSD he played all sports. He graduated in 1950, then went to Gallaudet College where he met and married his college sweetheart, Dorothy M. Leitch, Sept. 4, 1954. At Gallaudet, he excelled in sports, especially football and basketball. Dick graduated in 1955 with a major in Education and a minor in Physical Education. Dick settled down in Silver Spring, MD and went to work at the Washington Star newspaper for 7 years as a linotype operator (printer) before going to work at the United States Printing Office. From the US Printing Office, he was offered a position working for the US Senate Committee on Armed Services as a Proof Reader where he remained for 16 years serving under the chairmanship of five different senators (John Stennis, John Tower, Barry Goldwater, Sam Nunn, and Strom Thurmond). He retired in 1995 with 34 years of Government service.

Aside from working, Dick served many organizations for the deaf most notably the American Athletic Association of the Deaf, where he served as Publicity Director, Secretary-Treasurer, and President. He also served as the AAAD representative on the USOC (United States Olympic Committee). Dick was an active service member to the CISS (World Games for the Deaf) as Basketball Technical Delegate for 24 years, 7 World Games for the Deaf.

A combined celebration for Dick and Bonnie Caswell will be held at a later date. To honor Dick’s legacy in the field of Athletics, the family has asked that memorial contributions be made in Richard and Bonnie’s memory to Gallaudet University, Athletics Department, 800 Florida Ave. N.E., Washington, DC 20002

Written by Britt Caswell Carney, Daughter of Richard E. Caswell