Boston native finds fun in the sun

   Some guys just like to have fun, which is why Tim Casler earned a degree in hospitality. He learned lots of fun things like turning food into fancy sculptures.

   “I worked in a daycare center for a while and I made the kids a pirate ship out of a watermelon. That was fun,” said Casler.

   After graduation, he worked as assistant general manager of a country club. But that was no fun.

   “Some days I worked 22 hours straight. Most days I’d work from 6:00 a.m. until midnight then drive 45 minutes home. My pay came out to less than $5 an hour.”

   His wife, Laurie, encouraged him to change professions. He went back to college to become a physical education teacher and says even though it was the best decision he ever made, it still wasn’t any fun. Only 15 credits transferred and he spent four years working three part time jobs to get his BS in education.

   “The closest thing I had to a science class for my first degree was Mixology, the study of chemical reactions in drinks.”

   He now works as a para-professional at Rockbridge Elementary, and will begin teaching PE in August.

   “The kids love him,” said PE teacher, Tracy LaFayette.

   “He makes us laugh by telling jokes and when he teaches us new exercises, he shows us what not to do and that’s funny,” said Felix, age 10.

   “He’s cool! He works for the Braves,” said Shekinah, age 10.

   The Braves? Now that sounds like fun.

   “I’m the Fan Link Supervisor. I head up the Braves Kids Club and the Bravo Club for adults and oversee special parties at Turner Field. I love it.” (Info: www.atlantabraves.com)

   Regarding his teaching, Casler said, “I get to relate to the kids on their level. I get to act like a kid while reflecting back on good teachers I had. But what really got me thinking this way was when my dad was diagnosed with cancer. He beat it, but it made me realize life is too short not to have fun.”

   The Caslers are now having fun landscaping their Norcross home in a tropical theme.

   “I’m a huge Jimmy Buffett fan, and when I moved here from Boston, I said if I’m in the South, I’m going to have a palm tree in my backyard.”

   “Speaking of Boston,” I said, “you must have really partied for the Red Sox last fall.”

   “Actually, no,” he said. “I’d just moved here then. All my friend were in Boston and my wife was in Las Vegas on business. I was home alone. But in 1986 when the Red Sox played in the World Series, I watched it with my uncle and fell asleep. He always teased me that it was my fault they lost. So for the last game, I called him and we stayed on the line till the Red Sox won. That was fun.” 


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