Obituary of Castromo Preston

Castromo Preston, known to many as Cass, passed away at the age of 93 in Tucson, Arizona on April 4, 2023. Cass was a loving man to his family. Cass was born and raised in Tucson and was a second-generation native Tucsonan. He attended Dunbar Elementary in Tucson during the segregation of Jim Crow, and later graduated from Tucson High. Cass continued his education at the University of Arizona, where he earned both a bachelor's and master's degree in education. Cass served in the Air Force, where he developed his passion for music. He was well known for his jazz and band music in Tucson, and his band, Cass and the Individuals, gained a large following. While Cass worked as a P.E. teacher for over 20 years at Pueblo High School, his true love and calling was music. He had been singing and playing the trumpet since he was 15 years old. Cass received his motivation to play the trumpet from Louis Armstrong, who was a family friend who visited the Preston family often. Cass was preceded in death by his wife, Rosina Preston, and his son, Castromo "Cass" Preston Jr. Cass was also preceded in death by his mother, Alice Preston, father, Theodore Preston, sister, Mabel Preston, brother, Theodore Preston Jr (Jan, deceased), sister, Suzanna Preston Holmes, brothers, Barry Preston, and Lamont "Bert" Preston (Martha), niece Debra Preston, and nephew Barry Preston Jr. Cass is survived by his daughter Karinka Preston (Thomas Munford) and son Louis Hohl, as well as grandchildren Fedora Preston-Haynes, Jonathan Jones (Arianna), Isadora Preston-Jones, Harrison Jones, Olivia Preston, and Cass Preston III, sister-in-law Jackie Preston (Dennis Newton) niece Alyce Preston Drew (Calvin), nephew Todd Preston (Estella Lopez), niece Sonja Preston (daughter Carson), niece Carly Preston, nephew Trey Preston, niece Alice Preston Drury (Wade), Sean Preston (Angela), and Richard Preston, and many nieces and nephews. Cass Preston will be remembered for his contribution to the music scene in Tucson, and his dedication to teaching and mentoring students during his career as a P.E. teacher.