Obituary of "Reggie" Castell, Sr.

Robert “Reggie” Castell Sr. lost his long and courageous battle with COPD on January 9th 2024. Reggie was born May 3rd, 1958, in Malone, NY to the late Norman and Ruby (Henderson) Castell. He was a lifelong resident of Fort Covington, N.Y., where he attended St. Mary’s Catholic and Salmon River Central School. “Reggie” was a nickname given to him by his late friend Wally Greene, owner of his favorite hangout, Greene’s Sunoco. In his younger years, his athletic noteworthiness included bicycle wheelies, street hockey, and football, which culminated in his last JV season where they went undefeated. After leaving school, he was united in marriage to the late Sue Spooner in 1979, which ended in separation in 1995, they have seven children together. Reggie went on to various employment over the years being employed with St. Mary’s Church, the Town of Fort Covington Highway Department, Clark Phippen Trucking, owning Reggie’s Tire Repair, Truck Stop #9 maintenance where he built the Potato Bowl lacrosse facility, North Star Trucking, Starks Gravel, CJ Trucking, then owning his own trucking business, R Castell Trucking. Reggie was a revered and masterful mechanic, welder, fabricator, truck driver, and anything else he set out to do. He was almost superhuman in his wide range of skill. In his spare time, he enjoyed his time with his children, building race cars to race at the Frogtown (Mohawk) Speedway, a hobby that stemmed from his love of spending time with his father at the Fort Covington and Manville Speedways when he was a child. Reggie built beautiful race cars for the street stock division and then went on to race a sportsman modified for Dolly McDonald where he captured a heat and feature win along with multiple top five and top ten finishes. Besides racing, Reggie enjoyed riding his Harley Davidson motorcycles, especially the sportster he bought to lift his sprits while battling cancer in 2004. Reggie was full of life, always having a positive attitude, an endearing smile, a warm and welcoming greeting, captivating conversations, the best advice, an ear to listen, and a rock-solid shoulder to lean on. Reggie is survived by his nine children; Robert “Robbie” Jr., Cory (Ashley), Vanessa (Dave), Melissa Brown (predeceased by Anthony), Norman (spouse and child), Christopher (Megan), Justin (Jessica), Matthew (Courtney), and Tyler (Macey). His grandchildren; Corianna, Alexia, Alex, Jason, Roman, Ava, Chloe, Carson, Giovanni, Za’Kyla, Zariah, Hudson, Olivia, Evan, and great grandson Amiri, his brother Jonny (Beanie), sister Helen (Glen), longtime companion Cindy “Crash” Bombard, many friends, cousins, nieces, and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, sisters; Theresa, and Irene, best friends; Timmy Snyder, Corey Cooke, and Heath “Hammer” Landry. Reggie is going to be missed by an incalculable number of people because he was loved and respected so much. Calling hours are from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday, January 20th at the Cappiello-McKenzie & Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington, with a parade to the Fort Covington American Legion where the celebration of life will take place from 1-3. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Salmon River JV Football Team, Salmon River Varsity Hockey Team, or Massena Minor Hockey. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Cappiello-McKenzie & Cosgrove Funeral Home in Fort Covington. Friends may leave online condolences on Facebook at Ross Family of Funeral Homes or the website Brusofuneralservice.com