Victoria Elaine Casana

Victoria Elaine Casana (76) passed away November 24, 2023 in Berkeley, CA. In a life full of beauty, adventure and friendship, she traversed many worlds. Born in 1947 to parents George and Rhea Casana, proud of her Greek heritage. She graduated from Laconia High School in Laconia, New Hampshire and attended the University of Missouri, achieving a master’s degree in journalism and English. Travels took her to Berkeley and Victoria, B.C. Canada, developing her interest in vintage clothes, opening a store in 1969 in Berkeley, and literature, especially 19th century English authors. Returning to Cambridge, Mass. She taught English literature at Northeastern University in Boston, created a recycling program for Cambridge, and edited books for Houghton-Mifflin, then UC Press.

Wherever she went, she found close friends, explored the music and culture of our times, and spoke out, working to make our world a better place for all. Moving first to Santa Cruz, then to Berkeley, Vici followed her passion for vintage fashion clothes, with her discerning eye for beauty and quality, truly extraordinary. She taught editing at UC Berkeley and continued editing books. She followed her passions for music, fashion, literature, glorious architecture, and politics, fighting the good fight while embracing the wonders of our age. With many friends and loved ones on both coasts, she is survived by her partner, John McCord, her brother John (Suzanne), her niece and nephews Charity (Ross), Jesse (Sabrina), Seth (Anna), Johnny and her grandnephew and grandnieces. She will be dearly missed by her family and the many friends she touched in her life’s journey.