James Caswell didn’t know what it meant to remain idle. But even with a full schedule of classes, cheerleading and soccer practice, he still managed to go out of his way to make time for his friends and family.

Caswell, a senior SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry student, died at the age of 21 on July 11 in Newburgh, N.Y., after his motorcycle hit the side of another vehicle.

Friends of Caswell recalled that although he died at a young age, he was able to live his life to its fullest.

‘Twenty-one years is nowhere near a full life, but if anyone lived to the fullest of their ability, it was James. He did more in a day than I did in two weeks,’ said Mark Serber, a junior broadcast major who played club soccer with Caswell. Caswell grew up in Stormville, N.Y., and attended John Day High School. There he met Kaitlin Downey, now a junior retail marketing major at Syracuse University. The two dated for more than two years after getting to know each other while running track together. They remained best friends ever since.

‘He was basically part of my family,’ Downey said. ‘He was at my house practically every day.’

Caswell had been active in sports since high school-a ‘big time athlete,’ Downey said. Besides running track, he helped his school’s soccer team become New York state champions as the team’s starting goalie.

After graduating from high school in 2001, Caswell attended Western New England College. He later transferred to Dutchess Community College, and finally SUNY-ESF where he became a construction management major. A perfect choice, Downey said, because of Caswell’s love of building things.

‘He was always making things. He put shelves in his room … he even built a beer pong table once,’ Downey said.

Nick Schneider, a construction management major at SUNY-ESF who graduated in May, met Caswell through the classes they took together for their shared major. Schneider said Caswell was one of those people who could get along with anybody.

‘He was a very kind-hearted person, it’s kind of hard to put into words. I had a lot of good times with him,’ Schneider said.

Caswell continued with athletics in college. He played for both Western New England and Dutchess’ soccer teams, as well as Syracuse University’s club soccer team. Even through sports, Caswell was able to have a positive effect on those around him.

‘He always helped the freshmen settle in and feel part of everything,’ Serber said, referring to Caswell’s participation in club soccer.

Caswell became involved with SU’s cheerleading team after a few members convinced him at a party to come to practice one day. After that, he was hooked, and moved from the junior varsity team to the varsity team after just one month.

‘He just loved cheerleading,’ Downey said. ‘He put 110 percent effort into it.’

This summer Caswell spent his time divided between work and family. Downey said he worked seven days a week at a construction job in addition to other jobs he had on the side. He also played in men’s softball league with his father.

Memorial services for Caswell were held Thursday and Friday. Serber said that so many people showed up that extra chairs had to be added to the chapel, and even then, it was standing room only.

‘The funeral was probably one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do,’ Serber said. ‘But the thing is, every story a family member or teammate told me ended with everyone laughing or a smiling, that’s a big credit to James, that’s the way James was. As much as we grieve, he just wants us to be happy.’

Published on July 20, 2005 at 12:00 pm