Estella Clasen

It is with profound sorrow that we announce the passing of Estella Clasen, a longtime resident of Bellport, who passed away on January 8, 2025, after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her husband, Robert Clasen, and an extended family of 19 nieces and nephews and 25 grand nieces and nephews.

Estella taught physical education in Central Islip School District for 33 Years. Throughout her career, Estella did not just teach the importance of exercise and fitness, she exemplified it and was an excellent role model for her many hundreds of students. Estella particularly enjoyed being an active supporter of the National Circus Project at the Charles A. Mulligan Elementary School. This program taught circus and athletic skills to students and culminated each year with an evening showcase event that was very popular with students and their parents and friends.

Estella was also a devoted runner and athlete who competed in track and field events at local and national races for many years. Among her accomplishments, Estella won the women’s 10K at the Empire State Games, and she was a top runner in the women’s master’s category in the Long Island Grand Prix series in the 1990’s. Estella also got her husband, Bob, involved in running when they met in 1985, and she taught him the importance of training by finishing ahead of him in both the Long Island Half-Marathon and later the N.Y.C. Marathon. Estella was also a longtime member of the Bohemia Track Club where she once served as president and continued to act as membership director until her passing. Estella was truly the “heart and soul” of the club, and she will be sorely missed.

After several knee injuries precluded further competitive running, Estella persuaded her husband to compete in ballroom dancing. Besides performing showcase routines at many local social dances, they participated in amateur dance competitions in various cities across the nation. They also competed in the American Rhythm seniors category at the USA Dance Sport National Amateur Dance Championships and finished in the top three couples on several occasions. Besides running, dancing became a prominent part of their social life.

Memorial services will be held at Raynor & D’Andrea Funeral Home in Bayport on Sunday, January 12 from 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.  A chapel service will take place at the funeral home at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 13. Interment to follow at Blue Point Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any donations be made to the Lustgarten Foundation for pancreatic cancer research.

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