10/17/1951 – 8/22/2024
Lawrence, KS
Norman Caulfield, age 72, of Lawrence, KS, passed away on Thursday, August 22, 2024 after a long battle with congestive heart failure. He was born on October 17, 1951 to Robert and Virginia (Dorn) Caulfield in Dayton, OH. Norman attended Kent State University and the University of Houston, earning a BA, MA, and PhD in History from the University of Houston. He studied Spanish at The University of Costa Rica, where he met his wife Maria (Esquivel). They were married in 1984 in Costa Rica and were blessed with a daughter, Margarita.
A scholar of Latin American history, Norman spoke Spanish fluently and often conducted historical research directly from original Spanish language sources and lectured in Spanish at universities in Latin America. He was a Professor of History at Fort Hays State University in Hays, KS, and was the former acting director of research at the North American Free Trade Agreement (“NAFTA”) Labor Secretariat in Washington, D.C. He was also a Fulbright Lecturer at the University of Panama in Panama City, Panama, and gave countless academic guest presentations and lectures at universities around the world. Norman was considered to be a top scholar on NAFTA. In 2007, Fort Hays State University awarded Norman with the President’s Distinguished Scholar Award, which annually recognizes a faculty member with truly outstanding performance in scholarly activities. Norman published two books, NAFTA and Labor in North America and Mexican Workers and the State: From the Porfiriato to NAFTA, as well as numerous academic articles. NAFTA and Labor in North America won the 2011 Harvey Johnson Best Book Award from the Southwest Council on Latin American Studies, an award given annually to the author of the best book published on Latin America.
Norman is remembered by his family and friends for his compassion, caring, brilliance, supportiveness, sense of humor, and intention to make the world a better place. He was an activist that protested the Vietnam War at Kent State University and was a survivor of the May 4th shooting. Norman remained close with many of his friends from that time. Norman enjoyed traveling with his wife Maria and daughter Margarita, conducting historical and economic research, watching sports (particularly the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas Jayhawks, Houston Cougars, and Dayton Flyers), and playing chess.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Virginia, his sister Kathleen Caulfield, and brother-in-law William Miller. He is survived by his wife Maria, his daughter Margarita and her husband Timothy Hertach of Lawrence, KS; his brother: Tim Caulfield of Dayton, OH; his sisters: Roberta Miller of Dayton, OH, Gina Caulfield of Brooklyn, NY, and Rose Soltz (Steve) of Akron, OH; his brothers and sisters-in-law: Ramon (Lucila), Flor, Ana, and Fabio (Emilia) Esquivel of Heredia, Costa Rica; and many nieces and nephews in Ohio, New York, and Costa Rica.
Services for Norman will be held on Thursday, September 5, 2024, at 10:30 a.m. at Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Lawrence, KS. In remembrance of Norman’s life and love, the family asks that any charitable donations be made to Just Food, the Douglas County, KS food bank. Lawrence Chapel Oaks Cremation & Funeral Services is honored to serve the family.
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