Well Done Good and Faithful Servant

Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant: Remembering Stephen Casai

For 35 years, Steve Casai greeted students and guests entering Hillsdale’s cafeteria, always with a gracious smile and a friendly “hello.” The College community missed that smile when Casai fell seriously ill last September and could not return to work. On February 17, 2016, he passed away due to complications from a brain tumor. One week later, students, staff, and members of the community gathered at the Searle Center for a memorial service, where they celebrated the profound influence of a beloved friend.

Casai graduated from Hillsdale in 1974 with a degree in history. He went on to attend Bethany Lutheran College and Wisconsin Lutheran Seminary, but was never ordained. Instead, he chose to return to Hillsdale College, where he began working for the food service in 1980.

Steve’s quiet presence belied his influence on generations of Hillsdale students. In a letter he dictated that was printed in the fall 2015 Hillsdale Magazine, Casai expressed the doubts he had about whether he had made a difference. “And then I started to hear from all of you,” he wrote.

“God allowed Steve the rare gift of seeing what a difference his life had made,” said Greg McLogan, ’88, a Hillsdale native who met Steve when he was a teenager. McLogan shared reflections of Steve that other alumni had written. Many were touched by Steve’s humility, kindness, friendliness, and his Christian faith. “Steve brought grace to me,” recounted one alumnus. “I’ve been challenged to follow his example and give grace to others.”

Even though Casai’s job put him in contact with hundreds of people each day, he guarded his personal life. “Steve was a people person but also a private person,” noted Bud Vear, a local resident and retired Hillsdale College physician who knew Steve from their membership in the local Right to Life chapter. Although Casai would deflect any personal questions, he did share his knowledge and interests with others through occasional articles in the Collegian, writing about the arts and history. One such article recounted the history of Saga Food Service at Hillsdale. In the mid-1980s, students started calling Casai “Saga Steve.” “He hated the nickname,” Vear said. “He thought it would go away, but it never did. Eventually, Steve came to accept it and laugh about it.”

Casai also enjoyed the arts, and frequently attended musical and theatrical productions at the College. He developed friendships with those students who worked with him, always supporting and encouraging them in their endeavors. One of those students, senior Klara Holscher, recalled the lively discussions she and Casai would have about music, theatre, and books. One book in particular guided Casai—the Bible. “Steve would say, ‘I am a student of the Bible,’” Holscher said. “He should be remembered for his faith.”

Hillsdale President Larry Arnn recalled how in 2005, students petitioned the administration to name the new dining hall in the soon-to-be-built Grewcock Student Union after Casai. While the students did not get their request granted, Arnn did offer students the opportunity to design and dedicate two plaques that hang in the cafeteria in honor of Casai. One plaque states: “Hillsdale College gratefully recognizes and commends the dedication and loyalty of Stephen Casai, ’74, whose humble and quiet service is an inspiration and an example to all.” The second plaque features two passages chosen by Casai that reflect his Christian faith: Colossians 3:3, “Our life is hid with Christ in God,” and a poem based on that same verse, titled “Colossians 3:3,” written by 17th-century poet and priest George Herbert. “I think Steve was like a priest, and we were his ministry,” Arnn concluded. “We should be grateful to have been members of his flock.”

Stephen Casai Endowed Scholarship

The College is raising funds to endow fully the Stephen Casai Scholarship. This award will be made available to students in any class, with preference given to students who demonstrate a commitment to the principles of the pro-life movement, of which Steve was a tireless defender. To contribute toward this scholarship, please contact the Alumni Office at [email protected] or (517) 607-2461.


Printed in the Spring 2016 Alumni Magazine