FACES AT THE MOUNT

Daniel Casey enjoys keeping Mount Saint Joseph running

Age: 45 Occupation: Maintenance worker, master electrician Family: Wife, Patricia, married 15 years; four children, April, 26; Wesley, 24; Cotie, 18; and Tristen, 16; four grandchildren. Address: Livermore Education: Apollo High School Tenure at the Mount: Nine years in March. If he could do anything he’d be: The supervisor over maintenance in a big plant. Favorite thing about working here: The people.

Daniel Casey likes to make things run.

While working as an oil field supervisor several years ago, Daniel was frustrated that he could build anything required, but couldn’t give it life.

“I could do everything except the electrical work,” he said. “I talked to my boss about going to night school to be an electrician. He said he’d pay for it if I got all A’s and B’s.”

It took him four years of taking one class at a time, but Daniel got his certification as a master electrician. He got straight A’s except for a B in motors and controls, his favorite subject.

“I took it over until I had all A’s,” he said.

“When you’re building something and you can say, ‘I did it all, didn’t have to rely on somebody else,’ it makes it a whole lot better,” Daniel said.

For nearly nine years, the sisters and employees at Mount Saint Joseph have come to rely on Daniel, especially when the problem involves electricity. He may be involved in a major project that takes months, or he could be changing one of the 2,600 light bulbs in Paul Volk Hall.

“You don’t catch him in a bad mood,” said David Mehlbauer, a coworker on the seven-member maintenance staff. “He’s always full of get up and go.”

Daniel enjoys listening to the stories some of the older members of the Ursuline community tell. It’s a trait he’s had since childhood.

“When I was a kid, we’d go to the trade show, like a big flea market, and my mom said she would always know where I was, I’d be sitting on a work bench listening to the old-timers tell stories,” Daniel said.

Serious business

Choosing to work with electricity isn’t for everyone, but Daniel respects the danger potential.

“You have to have that thought in your head, it’s an invisible killer,” he said.

He’s had a few close calls. While working on some high voltage as a maintenance supervisor for Miles tomato operation, a pair of pliers blew out of his hands, thanks to another worker’s mistake.

Daniel was working for American Trailer in Rockport, Ind., when he saw an ad in the newspaper for an electrician

at the Mount. “I was tired of crossing that bridge every day,” he said.

Sister Rita Scott, plant administrator, was in charge of personnel at the time, and she knew right away that Daniel was the man for the job.

“He’s a very gifted and talented man,” Sister Rita said. “I believe more heads are better than one. We’ll both end the day scratching our heads about a problem, but Daniel’s mind is always working,” she said. “He’ll come in the next day and say, ‘What about this?’ And it’s usually the answer.”

Soon after Daniel started in 1999, he began changing the electrical system that served the maintenance building, Saint Angela and Saint Michael halls, to make the system safer and more efficient. The job took eight months.

“No building was without power for more than eight hours,” he said proudly.

He prefers big projects to the stack of work orders for repairs he sifts through every day, but he takes care of jobs all over the grounds. His big project now is rewiring and lighting the slaughterhouse, and changing the heating system.

To see his eyes light up – which is about all that can be seen on his beard-covered face – listen to him talk about the job he finished three years ago of rewiring the heating and cooling system for the chapel. Lately, he’s been working on developing a wireless call system for the nurses who work in Saint Joseph Villa, but he’s uncertain when that will happen.

“He’s talented at what he does, even in areas that aren’t his expertise,” said Dave Eby, maintenance manager and Daniel’s supervisor.

Although each member of the maintenance crew has an area of expertise, versatility is essential, Dave said.

“He used to have his own roofing company,” Dave said. “He works with his dad as a welder and fabricator. And he’s an electrician.” 

A distinctive look

Daniel realizes that his appearance – long hair and three years worth of beard growth -- turns a few heads and makes newcomers a little wary. He shrugs and says, “It’s just me. They learn to know me.”

Everyone seems to know him.

“He’s very kind and gracious to all the sisters,” Sister Rita said. “Most of the sisters would tell you they love Daniel.”

“It’s like working with your grandma, except you have several,” Daniel said of life at the Mount. “When I come into the cafeteria, Sister Diane Marie (Payne) calls out, ‘Here’s Moses.’ ”

He used to shave once a year, but he likes his beard length after three years. He never bothers cutting his hair.

“It usually gets trimmed off with a welding torch,” he said.

His appearance coincides with his love for Harley-Davidson motorcycles. His father owns a truck equipment business, so he sometimes works with his dad, but in his free time, he’s on his motorcycle.

“It’s my time,” he said.

He’s been to some of the big motorcycle events, such as in Daytona, Fla., or Sturgis, S.D., but he mostly rides around here.

“I sing most of the time,” while riding, he said, citing ’70s rocker Bob Seger as one of his favorite tunesmiths. “There are no pressures.”

One of his pride and joys is a limited edition 1977 Harley that he spent $2,000 rebuilding. He spent another $4,000 on the appearance, but believes the resale value is $18,000. He keeps a photo of it in the maintenance shop.

“I’m building a ’75 now,” he said. The motorcycle he rides the most is a 1996, because “it starts every time.”

Family time

His wife, Patricia, rides motorcycles with him sometimes. She doesn’t mind the hours he puts into work and play.

“When we got together I was working three jobs,” he said. They both worked at the tomato plant, and sometimes put in 80 hours a week.

Patricia worked in housekeeping at the Mount for a while, and is now an upholsterer with Twin Rivers in Livermore, the company that supplied the beds for Saint Joseph Villa.

The couple has been married for 15 years, and each had two children when they got married. The youngest, Tristen, is into music, and his daughter Cotie plans to join the Army when she graduates from McLean County High School this spring.

“She’s a straight-A student,” Daniel said. “She wants to be an Army lawyer.”

- written by Dan Heckel