I am a former student of Dr. Cast, and I loved every minute of her class, Sociology of the Family. I took it during a summer session, which meant it was fast-paced, but she made it feel manageable and even joyful. She’d host group study sessions—always with her big jar of Skittles—and patiently walk us through the study guides. I still talk about what I learned in that class at least once a month (if not more), and I took it back in the summer of 2019.
All this to say, Dr. Cast was an extraordinary professor, a kind soul, a brilliant mind, and a devoted mother. My sincere condolences and well wishes to her family.
P.S.
Dr. Cast, I just graduated with a Master’s in Human Sexuality Studies! Your lesson on gender roles in relationships was truly life-changing, and I carry what I learned from you into my daily life. Thank you so much for your guidance and for contributing to my love of Sociology. You are part of who I am today, something invaluable and impossible to thank fully.
0
Alicia was a gardener, and those of us who attended her Santa Barbara memorial were offered a packet of seeds that she had purchased for the next season. Leila chose basil. The plants are beautiful and the basil is delicious. Every time we pick the leaves and enjoy their freshness, we are reminded of Alicia's love and generosity and how much we miss her!
1
I'm so sorry to hear this. Alicia was such a lovely person - warm, generous, and kind. I'm grateful to have known her.
0
Ben Potoski, Alicia's son, would like people to know that the Santa Barbara service will be held on April 13 from 1:00 - 3:00 at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 380 N. Fairview Ave, Goleta.
0
Alicia was a wonderful person--smart, fun, serious, and caring. I only knew her in person since the time that she came to UCSB but I had known via her PhD. mentors for many more years and heard much about her and her work from them. Meeting her for the first time when I hosted Peter Burke's retirement party about a decade or so ago, we became good friends. It is hard to believe that such a lovely and vibrant person would die so early, just as her career was taking off and her children set to move into young adulthood. I had owed her and boys a sail out of the Santa Barbara harbor for some time; alas, it was not to be. Like anyone who knew Alicia, I will have memories of a kind and very nice person. I will miss our lunches at UCSB. Jonathan Turner
2
Dear Benjamin, Oliver, Matt and family, we are so sad to hear this news about your mom's passing. Our heart goes out to you in this difficult time. Alicia was such a lovely person and a devoted mom. She will be so missed and we hope that you will feel her presence always in your heart and her caring words whisper in your ears. Sending you much strength, love and hope in times to come. With love, Maryejo del Meijer and Julia Soler
0
Alicia was an incredibly caring and insightful friend, and we miss her greatly! Our thoughts and sympathies are with your family often in this time, for comfort and peace particularly.
One of my favorite specific memories of Alicia is crafting with her, particularly paper crafting. We both enjoyed gathering and shaping colored and patterned paper in pleasing and practical ways for cards, scrapbooks, etc. A few times we drove down to Ankeny to go to Michael's Crafts for its larger selection; those were good times of chatting! Once we even drove past Ankeny and ended up all the way in Des Moines when we tried to take 69 instead of 35. :)
She had a great eye for color and style and helped me choose the mats for some custom framed photos and needlework pieces that I still have displayed today. Alicia was so good at it she sold her cards and gift tags at craft shows for several years; I admired her talent and her hard work in that pursuit.
She also made amazingly beautiful and delicious salads. In so many and varied ways, Alicia brought beauty and grace to the world around her, and for that I am thankful.
1
Alicia was a productive scholar at ISU and we were saddened when the opportunity at Santa Barbara presented itself. Alicia lived and practiced sociology through her scholarship, her Ames UCC church and the broader Ames community. She lived a rich life that was cut much too early. With condolences to her sons, Matt and her extended family and friends.
0
Alicia, Matt, Anastasia, and I went on a trip to Madison Wisconsin to visit some friends from Iowa State who had moved there. She was pregnant with Ben at the time. While we were driving out, I remember that Alicia was knitting the whole way in the back of the car. Several months after that, Anastasia and I found out that she had been knitting a blanket for us that she gave us as a gift. We still have it and still use it. When she did things, she did them well. The yarn was incredibly soft and the color and knitting really good too. It is an example the kind of thoughtful acts Alicia did on a regular basis. She is greatly missed.
2
Dear Ben and Oliver,
I have been shocked and deeply saddened by this news. Alicia was one of my most favorite people. She welcomed our family to the neighborhood when we moved in several years ago. She was always there for us. She was kind, warm and smart. I enjoyed all the time we spent together, especially a few trick or treating we did together. When she moved out, the neighborhood was never the same for me. I feel pretty devasted by this news. My thoughts are with you guys. I know she has raised two incredible boys.
1
Alicia was smart and insightful, and was a significant part of my dissertation committee. We stayed in touch after I graduated, but never had a chance to reconnect, which I now deeply regret. I am still surprised I have to use the past tense when speaking about her - she was a mentor in many ways. I miss her very much.
2
Alicia was more than a friend, she was the very best of friends. So incredibly smart, and yet so humble. Fierce as well as gentle and loving. As graduate students at Washington State and then as friends/neighbors/colleagues at Iowa State, Alicia and I shared laughs and tears together, supported each other through countless happy and sad times. Anyone who knew Alicia, even if only briefly, knows how much she cared about the people in her life—her colleagues, friends, neighbors, and most of all, her sons and all her family. She always let the people in her life know how much they matter—how special they are. I miss you terribly, Alicia—my dearest friend.
4
She always tried to help and include people. I will remember that about her.
0
Share with others
