Caton Roberts

Caton Forest Roberts passed away on August 23, 2025, at the age of 70. Seven months earlier, a large tumor was discovered in his liver, a new occurrence of the bile duct cancer he was diagnosed with in 2015. Surgery was thought to have cured him, so this new tumor was a surprise. Caton lived a life that was dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and meaning, the love of family, and the joy of nature. He influenced, inspired and touched the hearts of many; he will be deeply missed.

Caton was preceded in death by his mother, Betsy Frank Caton Roberts and his sister, Cheralyn Roberts Ramirez. He is survived by his devoted spouse, Linda Peters Roberts, and his cherished children, Leah Marion Roberts and Sean Forest Roberts, who were, as he put it, the “love of his life.” He is also survived by his father and brother, Allyn and Clark Roberts, his sister’s son, Troy Ramirez, as well as by many loving relatives on Linda’s side of the family, and countless friends.

Caton and Linda met and fell in love in 1974 during their sophomore year of college on a hilltop, looking up wondrously at the vast starry sky and speculating together about the meaning of life. This deep seeking was the bedrock of their 51 year-long romantic relationship. A house, a marriage, a dog, a cat and then two beautiful children strengthened their bond and enabled them to grow both as a couple and as individuals. Caton was whole-heartedly dedicated to his children--he spent hours mentoring them, making them laugh and squeal, coaching their soccer, baseball, softball and ski teams, and challenging them to become their best selves. Through his example, he instilled in them an abiding sense of fun, curiosity and wonder.

After graduating from Memorial High School, Caton’s educational journey began with a year of travel, primarily solo, across Europe, the Middle East, India and Nepal. He graduated from Carleton College in 1977 where he initially planned to study Eastern religions, but instead found his intellectual home in Psychology. He completed a PhD in Clinical and Community Psychology at the University of Illinois-Champaign/Urbana in 1989 and took his first job as an Assistant Professor of Psychology at the State University of New York at Buffalo. In 1994, his family moved to Madison where he became the Unit Chief of the Forensic Assessment Unit at the Mendota Mental Health Institute. He began teaching part-time in the Department of Psychology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and eventually dropped his clinical work in forensic psychology in favor of full-time teaching and service at the University. Caton taught an estimated 25,000 undergraduates over the course of his career--yet he managed to create a personal touch, caring deeply about his students' lives and ensuring that they felt valued and heard. In addition to teaching, he was heavily involved in the campus movement to create inclusive learning communities. From 2007-2015 he served as the Faculty Director of the Chadbourne Residential College. He retired in 2018 as a Distinguished Faculty Associate Emeritus, leaving a legacy of contributions not only to the students he served, but to his department and the University as a whole.

Beyond his professional endeavors, Caton found joy in skiing and golf, pursuits that showcased his love for technical skill and grace. He played on softball teams throughout his adult life, participated in a book club, a men’s group and many gatherings focused on growth and spirituality. He loved music and playing the piano. He delighted in hiking, canoeing, or any activity where he could soak up the beauty of Nature. His summer escape was Middle Island Point on Lake Superior, where he spent summers as a child. As an adult, he renovated his father’s cottage there and served on the Board of the Association to preserve this special place of beauty and refuge for future generations. In winter, you would find his spirit floating gracefully down hills and mountains--alpine skiing was his ardent passion. He was happiest outdoors. The day prior to his passing, he was able to lay in his hospital bed outside, all day, blue sky above him, surrounded by flowers, grasses, trees and a gentle wind. Enveloped by Love.

Caton will be remembered for his genuine, honest and caring approach to personal interactions, his keen sense of humor, his passionate, no-nonsense approach to life, and for the compassion and understanding he extended to those around him.

A celebration of Caton’s life will be held on September 21, 2025 at the Holy Wisdom Monastery, 4200 County Road M, Middleton, Wisconsin. A visitation period will begin at 1:15 pm to greet the family; the service will be at 2:00 pm, followed by a reception.

For those who want to make a contribution in Caton’s honor, a fund has been established to plant a memorial tree on the Carleton College campus. Gifts can be made online: https://www.givecampus.com/campaigns/8319/donations/new or sent to the address below. In either case, you need to include a notation that the gift is for a tree in memory of Caton Roberts.

Carleton College, Gift Accounting, 1 N College Street, Northfield, MN 55057

Alternatively, to support research and awareness related to the rare cancer Caton struggled with, donations may be made to the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, https://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/