Former Delaware Governor and Congressman Michael Castle died on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at age 86 in Greenville, Delaware. Castle was among Delaware’s most successful politicians and the last Republican elected governor of the state, serving from 1985 to 1992 before representing Delaware in the U.S. House of Representatives for 18 years.
Castle died at the Country House in Greenville, where he lived with his wife of 33 years, Jane DiSabatino. His death was attributed to a long illness, according to an obituary posted on the Chandler Funeral Home website. The Delaware Republican Party announced his death but shared no other details.
Current Delaware Governor Matt Meyer ordered flags flown at half-staff a week in Castle’s honor. Meyer indicated that during Castle’s time as governor, he visited every single school in the state, including Meyer’s own high school, where Castle spoke with the same warmth, humility, and commitment to public service that defined his career.
Castle’s political career spanned more than four decades, beginning when he was first elected to the General Assembly in 1966. He served in both the Delaware House and Senate for 10 years before being selected as lieutenant governor under Governor Pete du Pont from 1981 to 1985. With du Pont’s endorsement, Castle was easily elected governor for two terms, though his second term was cut short when he won Delaware’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Born July 2, 1939, in Wilmington, Castle was the son of a DuPont patent attorney and could trace his family roots to America’s founding fathers Benjamin Franklin and Daniel Carroll. He graduated from Tower Hill School before earning a bachelor’s degree in economics from Hamilton College and later a law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1964.
During his 18 years in Congress from 1993 to 2011, Castle became a leader of centrist Republicans, earning a reputation as a fiscal conservative and social moderate. He supported a pay-as-you-go policy for both spending and tax cuts and played roles in improving child nutrition programs and establishing the No Child Left Behind education reform program.
Castle’s signature achievement in Congress was championing the commemorative quarters program that featured coins honoring each state, starting with Delaware. The Numismatic Guaranty Company dubbed him “The Coinage Congressman” for his efforts. The quarters boosted federal revenues as they were taken out of circulation. He also helped establish similar programs honoring U.S. presidents with dollar coins beginning in 2007 and an “America the Beautiful” quarter program honoring national parks, monuments, and nature areas starting in 2010.
Former President Joe Biden, who served alongside Castle for nearly two decades, noted that there was one word that came to mind when thinking of Castle: dignity. Biden indicated that riding the train back and forth to Washington together, he got to know Castle as a thoughtful and kind man who became a true friend. Biden emphasized that Castle was defined by his integrity and that no other member of Congress would say a bad word about him.
Delaware Senator Chris Coons, who knew Castle for more than 40 years after meeting him at age 16, described Castle as kind, genuine, civically minded, and responsible. Coons noted that when they eventually ran against each other in what was expected to be a 2010 Senate race, he only liked Castle more during their civilized campaign.
Castle’s political career ended after a stunning upset in the 2010 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate seat that Biden had held before becoming vice president. Despite being the likely favorite in the general election, Castle was defeated by political newcomer Christine O’Donnell amid anti-establishment “tea party” fervor. Coons easily won the November general election for the seat.
In 2013, Castle was honored with a nearly nine-mile trail along the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal named in his honor. The Michael N. Castle Trail is now visited by hundreds of thousands of outdoor enthusiasts every year. Castle also served on the WHYY Board of Directors from 2012 to 2022.
Funeral arrangements have been announced for Castle. A visitation for family and friends will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. on August 21 near Fairfax. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on August 22, followed by a Celebration of Life. Burial will be private.
Castle is survived by his wife Jane DiSabatino and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews.