Thomas Cafferty

COLUMBIA Thomas Patrick Cafferty, PhD, known as “Tom” to friends and family passed away peacefully on Saturday, December 20, 2025, in Columbia, South Carolina, at the age of 81. A gentle soul of generosity and understated wit, Tom leaves behind a legacy of kindness, mentorship, and academic excellence that touched countless lives.

Born in New York City, he was the son of the late Peter and Mary Cafferty. Tom grew up in a vibrant urban environment that nurtured his curiosity and intellect. He graduated from Fordham University before pursuing his doctorate in Psychology at Purdue University - a field that would become his lifelong passion.

Tom’s commitment to education led him to the University of South Carolina, where he taught Psychology for 35 years, mentoring generations of students and colleagues. For a decade, he served as Director of Undergraduate Education, shaping curricula and fostering the growth of the program with unwavering dedication.

Tom was a prolific scholar, contributing numerous articles and research to his field, and was honored with many prestigious awards, including USC Michael Mungo Award, South Carolina College Outstanding Teacher in Humanities and Social Sciences and Mortar Board Excellence in Teaching Award. A proud member of the American Psychological Association, Southeastern Psychological Association, Society for the Advancement of Social Psychology, Society of Industrial-Organizational Psychology and the South Carolina Center for Gerontology, he was deeply engaged in the professional community.

Despite his self-described lack of athletic prowess, Tom loved spending mornings on the golf course and tennis courts. He never missed a chance to cheer for his favorite teams - the USC Gamecocks, Purdue Boilermakers, and Fordham Rams - instilling his love of sports to those around him.

An enthusiastic reader and puzzle solver, Tom cherished the camaraderie of his faculty book club and was especially fond of tackling the Sunday New York Times crossword. In the community, he enjoyed social memberships with The Summit Club, Palmetto Club, Mid-Carolina Country Club and the Kiawah Island Governor’s Club.

Tom’s warmth extended beyond the classroom and club meetings, where he was known for sparing time to listen to others, offering sage advice or simply a sympathetic ear. He took special pride in his role as devoted husband, father and grandfather - known affectionately as “Pepe”.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Loretta O’Reilly Cafferty; daughter, Carolyn (Columbia); son, Brendan (Susan) Cafferty (Lexington); beloved grandchildren, Reilly Elizabeth, Maggie (Margaret Ellen) (predeceased) and John Patrick Cafferty; sister, Susan (Donald) Roda, Glen Cove NY and brother, Peter Cafferty, Sunland, CA.

Services for Dr. Cafferty will be managed by Dunbar Funeral Home, Dutch Fork Chapel. A Requiem Mass will be held at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at Our Lady of the Hills R.C. Church with the Reverend Edward Fitzgerald, JCL, presiding, followed by graveside services at St. Peter’s Cemetery, Columbia. The family will receive friends from 4 until 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 29, 2025, at the funeral home.

Tom Cafferty’s mild manner, generosity and passion for life will be greatly missed by all who knew him. His memory lives on in the minds he shaped, the community he cherished, and the family he loved dearly.

Memorials may be made to Regis H.S., 55 East 84th Street, NY, NY 10028 www.regis.org

Memories may be shared at www.dunbarfunerals.com.