My first quarter in college (Fall 1967), I naively signed up for an upper-level course in Justin Morrill of MSU entitled “The Philosophy of Bertrand Russell.”  I was hopelessly outclassed as a freshman:  I was probably the only one in the class who did not know what “epistemology” was. I learned a lot of what at the time I thought of as “interesting stuff that had no relation to concrete reality” and I couldn’t imagine what use I would find for it during the rest of my life. Was I ever wrong!  Of all my undergraduate coursework, that one has come back in different permutations to apply throughout the years. Thank you and a belated Rest In Peace to the professor of that course, Dr. Al Cafagna of the Michigan State University Philosophy Department, for teaching me to think for myself without ever making me feel stupid.  I only had one class with Dr. Cafagna and never saw him afterwards, but his influence lasted a lifetime.

What an amazing life and what a great friend of jazz and social activism!  He will be missed!

June 20 would have been our 52nd anniversary. Even though Al is gone, I celebrated in my heart, feeling his presence. Al and I enjoyed jazz concerts, festivals and cruises during all of our years together. Many songs are meaningful messages about our lives. We both loved "All the Things You Are," "Our Love Is Here to Stay," and "The Nearness of You." 
Beth

Al was a wonderful friend and a delight to be with.  Don and I arrived in EL in 1965 when he joined the Humanities Dept. chaired by Tom Greer.  We were warmly welcomed by the Greer family.  Don met Al when they were both teaching  at Justin Morrill College of MSU.  When Al married Beth, the 4 of us crossed paths  at JAMM, Summer Solstice  Fest, teaching in London, concerts, Shakespeare at Stratford, and many celebrations. Blessings of peace and love to Beth and all the family.  Joan and Don Gochberg

Farewell fellow worker. You introduced me to Raya Dunayevskaya
and C.L.R James. You were on the bus with me as we travelled to Washington D.C. together to attend the biggest anti-war demonstration in the history of the U.S.A. in November, 1969. You were an inspiration to me and so many others. In short, you were a champion, an intellectual who made history. 

Beth and Family, we’re thinking of you and holding you in our hearts. Blessings and deepest sympathies. Donna Anderson and Jill Anderson Schaberg 

Beth, we were sorry to read of Al's passing.  It brought back happy memories of our Marriage Encounter connection.  Our prayers are with you and your family.

Al and Ann Kauffold

To the Cafagna Family,

I was a student of Professor Cafagna during Spring Term 1985 in his Philosophy of Social Science class during my final term at Michigan State University, before they switched to a semester system. I am a quadriplegic wheelchair user with Cerebral Palsy, and during each class session he was extremely kind to me. With about two weeks to go, my beloved sister died, but I pushed forward to finish up, saying nothing. In his course, both a paper and a Final Exam were due on the last day. When my dad came to push me out of the class when the Final Exam was done, here came Professor Cafagna with tears in his eyes, expressing emotional condolences, because he had seen my sister’s obituary.  I have never forgotten his kindness.

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Albert Carl Cafagna

6 août 1932 – 3 juin 2022

Gorsline Runciman Funeral Homes

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