Jay D. Castelli – 50th Reunion Essay

Jay D. Castelli

319 Melbourne Ave.

Mamaroneck, NY 10543

jaycastell@aol.com

914-584-5186

Spouse(s): Carolyn Castelli (1980)

Child(ren): Lauren Lanker (1983); Lisbeth Poythress (1986)

Grandchild(ren): Juniper Lanker (2016), Baby Poythress due Oct. 2018

Education: Yale BA 1969, Pace U. – XMBA ‘86

Career: JHS Eng and Math teacher ’69–‘71; Played keyboards/arranged/sang in Rock Band “Goodness” ’73–’77; Director/VP Mktg and Research for two Educ. Publishers ’79–’15; Church Minister of Music ’78 to present

Avocations: Arranging/playing contemporary Christian and secular music, Bible study, mentoring young people, financial planning, cross-country skiing with my wife, singles tennis with friends

College: Timothy Dwight

Career choice was the big question I faced upon leaving Yale. I’d started as a biochem major but switched sophomore year to English (and music). Having started playing piano at age four under my piano teacher mom, music was in my blood. I played clarinet in the Yale Band, bass fiddle in a bluegrass group, and piano in a couple TD Dramat musicals.

After Yale, I drifted as a JHS English and math teacher for three years (even roped roomie Bill Mackoff to sub in my first school). But then I jumped at the chance to satisfy an adolescent dream and joined a rock band “Goodness” where I arranged songs, played three keyboards, and sang harmony for four and a half years. We were good, playing Beatles, Beach Boys, Chicago, Led Zeppelin, America, The Who, Doobie Bros., disco. We even played the Princeton Prom. But we self-destructed in the end.

The most significant change in my life: the time in the band also intensified an inner battle between my religious convictions and my lifestyle that festered at Yale and in my 20s. I firmly believed that Jesus had saved me from my sins and prayed to him often, but I also sensed on another level that my lifestyle was probably not very pleasing to him. He was my Savior but clearly not my Lord. My idea of Lux et Veritas was to shine the light only on those truths I cared to embrace—ignore the rest. I thought I was the Rock, not him, and that I could do whatever I wanted whenever I wanted. Graciously, God hit me over the head shaking me to my core with anxiety/panic attacks till I understood I wasn’t the Rock—He was—that my lifestyle needed to change. I made a 180-degree turn and recommitted my life to Jesus, the Messiah, the Son of God. I believe a changed life is the strongest proof of the existence of God.

Soon after, I began to attend a Christian fellowship where I met, wooed, and married my wife of 38 years, Carolyn Joy. Together we have served the Lord vigorously and joyfully leading Bible study and prayer groups, and serving in leadership. Since nothing is wasted in God’s economy, my rock band time came in handy in arranging music for, leading, and playing in the praise band at church, where I have been minister of music for decades. My math background comes in handy as church treasurer, and my English skills appear in many letters to the congregation.

Oh yeah. That career thing? I knew that to get married I needed to get a job other than rock musician. So in my early 30s, I applied to manifold jobs for editors, teachers, and musicians. I was hired by a small educational publisher as an editor. The president saw my numbers aptitude and taught me marketing where for 36 years I happily enjoyed the marriage of math and English—having never taken a marketing course in my life. Amen.