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UPI
a day ago
- Politics
- UPI
Former Delaware Gov. Michael Castle dies at 86
1 of 3 | Former Congressman and Gov. Michael N. Castle, R-Del., has died at the age of 86, the politician's family confirmed in a post online. File Photo (2009) by Roger L. Wollenberg/UPI | License Photo Aug. 15 (UPI) -- Former congressman and Gov. Michael N. Castle, R-Del., has died at the age of 86, the politician's family confirmed in a post online. The moderate Republican served two terms as governor between 1985 and 1992 before being elected to Congress in 1993. "Congressman Mike Castle was a founding member of the Republican Main Street Partnership, a leading organization for centrist Republicans, and worked in a bipartisan manner to help move people from welfare to work, support fiscally responsible government, improve public education, and protect the community," his family said in the statement. "He served on the House Committee on Financial Services, Committee on Education and Workforce and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence." Castle, who is survived by his wife of over 33 years, Jane DiSabatino, ultimately became the longest-serving member of Congress from Delaware in the state's history. He also served as the lieutenant governor of Delaware from 1981 to 1985 prior to being elected governor, and in the state legislature before that. "Over the arc of the more than 40 years that I knew him - I met him when I was 16 - he repeatedly provided his knowledge and expertise to help me along my own way," Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said in a statement, calling Castle an "incredible man." "When we eventually ran against each other, I did my absolute best to run a respectful, positive, policy-based campaign. As we campaigned against each other, I only liked him more." Castle was known as a backer of educational and environmental reforms. As a member of Congress, Castle was a major proponent of the 2001 "No Child Left Behind," legislation that was an effort to improve test scores among U.S. school children. "Governor Castle understood there is no greater legacy we leave to future generations than the quality of our environment. As Governor, his administration's Environmental Legacy program to protect and preserve forests, wetlands, and beaches won recognition for its foresight and impact," his family said in the statement. In addition to DiSabatino, who he married in 1992, Castle is survived by his "many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews." Visitation will take place August 21 at a funeral home in Wilmington, Del. Notable deaths of 2025 Astronaut Jim Lovell, commander of the ill-fated Apollo 13 mission to the moon, died August 8, 2025, in Illinois, his family announced. He was 97. Photo by Kevin Dietsch/UPI | License Photo
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Michael Castle, former Delaware governor and congressman, dies at age 86
WASHINGTON - Republican Michael N. Castle, a fixture in Delaware politics for a half-century who previously served as governor and a member of Congress, died Thursday at age 86. "During his time as governor, Mike Castle visited every single school in our state, including mine, where he spoke to my high school class with the same warmth, humility, and commitment to public service that defined his career," Delaware Gov. Matt Meyer, a Democrat, said in a statement directing that flags be lowered to honor Castle. "That moment, among others, demonstrated what a good man he was and how deeply he cared about Delaware's future." Castle served as governor for two terms before being elected to the House in 1992, where he went on to serve nine terms. In 2010, he entered the Republican primary for a special Senate election to fill the remainder of Joe Biden's term after Biden became vice president. But amid the anti-establishment "tea party" fervor in the Republican Party at the time, the moderate Castle lost the primary to Christine O'Donnell, who proved to be an unsuccessful general election candidate, with a campaign ad proclaiming that she was "not a witch." Democratic Sen. Chris Coons won the general election and continues to hold the seat. "Over the arc of the more than 40 years that I knew him - I met him when I was 16 - he repeatedly provided his knowledge and expertise to help me along my own way," Coons said in a statement. "When he was a congressman and I was county executive, we worked together often, including some important investments into the C&D Canal greenway. When we eventually ran against each other, I did my absolute best to run a respectful, positive, policy-based campaign." In Congress, Castle was a senior Republican on what's currently known as the Education and the Workforce Committee. He was a lead sponsor of the 2001 education law known as "No Child Left Behind," initiated by President George W. Bush to tie federal education aid to improvements in student test scores. Also a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, Castle long fought for his home state's banking industry. He also promoted the creation of new, collectible U.S. coins. He was the lead House sponsor of a 2005 law that authorized the minting of a series of $1 coins bearing the likenesses of all the U.S. presidents, and he was a leading champion of initiatives like the 50-state quarters program. The 6-foot-4-inch Castle was a basketball star in high school. He graduated from Hamilton College in upstate New York in 1961 and went to Georgetown University Law School, "sort of because I didn't know what I was doing," he said at a Hamilton College commencement address in 2004. In private practice, he worked for a former Delaware attorney general who encouraged him to take the part-time position of deputy attorney general, a post he assumed at age 26. In 1966, he ran for the state House in a Democratic-leaning district. He won and later ousted an incumbent state senator. After 10 years in the General Assembly, he won election as lieutenant governor for one term and governor for two terms. "There's one word that comes to mind when I think of Mike Castle: dignity," former President Joe Biden posted Thursday on X. "Riding the train back and forth together to Washington for nearly two decades, I got to know Mike as a thoughtful and kind man - a colleague who became a true friend." Speaking at his undergraduate alma mater's commencement ceremony in 2004, Castle looked to the future - and some of his prognostications have already come true. "Broadband will take us places we cannot even imagine," Castle said. "Will we have in-person meetings or will telecommuting become the norm? Instead of a 20-hour plane ride to Tokyo, we will see planes that 'skip' in and out of the atmosphere." Copyright (C) 2025, Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Portions copyrighted by the respective providers.
