Thomas E. McCaig, 82, Stevens Point, a former professor and dean at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (UW-SP), died Monday, May 21, 2012, at the Stevens Point Care Center in Whiting.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, June 1, at St. Joseph’s Convent Chapel in Stevens Point. Burial will be in Queen of Heaven Mausoleum in Hillside, Ill.
Visitation will be at the chapel from 9:30 a.m. Friday until the Mass.
Memorials should be sent to Newman University Parish, 2108 Fourth Ave., Stevens Point, WI 54481.
Boston Funeral Home in Stevens Point assisted the family with arrangements. Condolences may be offered online at bostonfuneralhome.net.
Mr. McCaig was born in Chicago, Ill., on Dec. 22, 1929, a son of the late Thomas and Elizabeth (Hart) McCaig. He received a doctorate in education from Loyola University in Chicago, Ill., in 1967.
From 1952 to 1964, he taught English, drama, and mathematics in the Chicago and Oak Park, Ill., public school systems, at times focusing on students with special needs.
During this period, from 1953 to 1955, he was called to serve in the U.S. Army and stationed at Fort Meade, Md.
In 1966, he joined the faculty of the School of Education at UW-SP. He served as associate dean and head of the School of Education from 1972 to 1978. He received the UW-SP Excellence in Teaching Award in 1969 and 1990 and was the university’s nominee for the CASE Professor of the Year award and the Joyce Erdman Excellence in Teaching Award. In 1992, he was named Outstanding Teacher Educator of the Year, UW-SP, by the state superintendent of Public Instruction.
He represented the university abroad on several occasions. In 1976, he led student groups to study in Krakow, Poland, and London, England. In 1980, he was given a semester’s professorial exchange position at West London Institute of Higher Education in Richmond, England.
For 11 years after his retirement in 1994, he mentored university professors and high school teachers. In subsequent years, he continued to spend many hours serving as friend and adviser to those he mentored, as well as UW-SP faculty members and former students.
Survivors include one brother, the Rev. John McCaig; and five first cousins, Charles (JoAnne) Planek, Thomas Planek, Grace Marie Reiland, Bernadette Eder and William Patera.
