It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Gino Alphonso Castellan on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at the age of 60 years. Gino was born in Windsor, Ontario on November 9, 1963. From an early age, Gino was a gifted athlete and excelled in sports. He played hockey and basketball competitively as a teen. However, his first love was always football. Gino graduated high school and attended the University of Windsor. During a successful university sporting career, he was named to the All Star university conference football team in the position of middle linebacker and was scouted by the CFL. He took his talents on the field and translated them into two undergraduate degrees at the University of Windsor. He then made the cross-country journey to the University of Alberta to complete his Education degree and to help coach the Golden Bears Men’s Basketball Team. In 1991, after working for Football Alberta, Gino started teaching for Red Deer Catholic Schools. He joined the staff of Camille J. Lerouge Collegiate High School as the head football coach and taught sciences. In 1993, Gino met and fell in love with his wife, Karen. Their romance blossomed and soon they, along with Karen’s two children, Robyn and Ryan, were a family. In 1995, they welcomed their son, Luke into the world and all five settled into a busy family lifestyle. Throughout his career, Gino continued to run the football program at Ecole Notre Dame Secondaire High School. He also coached Track and Field, was the Athletic Director for Notre Dame, chaperoned many student travel trips, negotiated for the Alberta Teachers Associated Local, was the Commissioner for Central Alberta High School and Bantam Football, President of the Central Alberta Kidsport, was on the Executive for Football Alberta and Football Canada, and taught St. John’s First Aid courses. He pioneered the Science 30 curriculum and was instrumental in developing the Registered Apprenticeship Program in Red Deer. After an outstanding career, Gino retired from teaching in 2022 and was free to spend his time RVing in the summer and chasing the warm sun in Mexico and the Southern US in the winter with Karen. Gino was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2017. He battled through that prognosis, returned to work, and for close to five years he was showing signs of living a healthy life. In 2022, the cancer returned and again, it looked like the course of treatment would place it in remission. Unfortunately, in fall of 2023, a third recurrence was discovered. Gino fought valiantly through the last seven months of his life but eventually succumbed to small-cell cancer. Gino’s herculean efforts throughout his personal and professional life to inspire young people to be their best will be forever remembered. His dedication to teaching and to sports in general, will live on through the lives of those he taught, coached and worked with. A personality larger than life. Gino Castellan’s legacy will survive for countless years. Gino is survived by his loving wife of twenty-nine years, Karen, and their children, Robyn (Garnett), Ryan (Sally), and Luke, and their grandchildren, Sullivan, Benjamin, and Vada. Gino will also be sadly missed by his brothers, Dan (Rita) and John (Pat), and his sisters, Ann (Frank) and Lisa (Tom). Funeral Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 6 McMillan Avenue, Red Deer, Alberta on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, at 4:00 p.m. Livestreaming is available at https://stmarysparish.jimdo.com. A Reception will be held at the Festival Hall, 4214 – 58 Street, Red Deer, Alberta following the Funeral Mass. The family has asked that football players wear their jerseys and those who attend are also welcome to wear their favorite team’s jersey. If desired, Memorial Donations in Gino’s honor may be made directly to Kids Sport Alberta at www.kidsportcanada.ca/alberta/donate/ or to Canadian Cancer Research at www.cancer.ca. Condolences, memories and photos may be shared and viewed at www.parklandfuneralhome.com

Parkland Funeral Home and Crematorium (Red Deer)

6287 – 67 A Street (Taylor Drive), Red Deer. 403.340.4040.

ONLY LOCALLY FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED FUNERAL HOME/CREMATORIUM

IN THE CITY OF RED DEER

• Date : 2024-05-01
• Location : (Red Deer) Locally Family Owned (Red Deer/Blackfalds/Eckville) www.ParklandFuneralHome.com & (Innisfail/Olds/Didsbury/Sundre) www.HeartlandFuneralServices.com