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David Cayton Obituary
He was in ill health the last year, with congestive heart failure and other complications, his wife, Susan, said.
Mr. Cayton and his wife, primarily a fiber artist, founded Five Point Studio at their home of 47 years, a onetime farm house.
He concentrated on teaching printmaking during his academic career. As an artist, he was known as well as a potter, and his pieces ranged from functional ware to sculptural. Some looked metallic; some had moving parts and contained bolts, twigs, or fabric. He designed his own tools for carving or marking the clay and mixed his own glazes.
"His things were wonderfully strange," said Robert Stinson, a BGSU art professor emeritus who taught Mr. Cayton, a BGSU alumnus, before he was a colleague. They also co-authored, with Otto Ocvirk among others, Art Fundamentals: Theory and Practice.
"He was an outstanding student, and that's why we hired him. Students liked him so much because he did such a good job, and he was a good artist."
Mr. Cayton was proficient in many facets of art and taught drawing and painting and sculpture. When he learned that an ancestor was a blacksmith, he took classes.
"He was like a DaVinci man. He tried all sorts of things," his wife said.
Mr. Cayton and his wife also were re-enactors at Fort Meigs, she in fiber and he in pottery.
Mr. Cayton had bachelor's and master's degrees from BGSU, where he started teaching as a graduate assistant. He returned to BGSU after a four-year stint at Ball State University.
He received an Il Magnifico award for his support of the school of art from the Medici Society, made up of the school friends and patrons. He retired in 1998.
He was born July 30, 1940, in Marion County to Iva and Russell Cayton, but grew up in Bryan, where his parents were public school teachers. He was a 1958 graduate of Bryan High School.
Surviving are his wife, Susan Cayton, whom he married Nov. 18, 1967; daughters Carrie Anne Cayton and Catherine Glori Cayton; brother, James Cayton; sister, Martha Jost, and a grandson.
Visitation will be from 4-8 p.m. Friday in Witzler-Shank Funeral Home, Perrysburg, where memorial services will be at 1 p.m. Saturday.
The family suggests tributes to the BGSU art department's scholarship fund.
This story was written by Blade Staff Writer Mark Zaborney. Contact him at: [email protected] or 419-724-6182.
Memories and Condolences
for David Cayton
53 Entries
May 11, 2015
David was I first class gentleman! David Neil Mack
Butch Schlotman
March 1, 2015
Dave was a friend and teacher of mine when I attended Ball State University. He was there for me when I needed guidance in school and in life. Thank you Mr. Cayton
Shahrokh Rezvani (Hobbeheydar)
March 1, 2015
Such a sad sad news. David Cayton and Dr Lang were the two professors that had the greatest influence on me as an artist and printmaker. They inspired and guided me more than all other professors in the Art Department at Ball State University. I will forever honor them as my friends and my guiding mentors. A great great loss. My condolences to Susan and their families.
MUCH LOVE,
Shahrokh Rezvani
(Hobbeheydar) Scottsdale, Arizona
Sandy Schock Houtman
February 28, 2015
I only heard today of David's passing. Under his tutelage at BSU I fell in love with clay and ideas and possibilities. He had a profound affect on my life and I am forever grateful. My sincerest sympathy Susan and family.
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Amie Oliver
February 25, 2015
David was one of the best in that he was a very fine artist, teacher and a thoughtful, considerate decent man with a twinkle in his eye. He touched so many lives - I am grateful to have been his student and a teaching fellow when he ran the art foundation program at BGSU. He will be missed by many.
Valerie Devitt Escobedo
February 13, 2015
I was a printmaking student at BGSU in the 90's, and I feel incredibly fortunate to have had the opportunity to study with Dave Cayton. He was an encouraging, positive, caring professor. I think of him often as I teach my own printmaking students and remember his warm laughter.
Edie Small Davidson
February 10, 2015
Mr. Cayton was one of my favorite teachers at BG. I remember him clearly even though it was 45 years ago. My BGSU BFA served me well in my art teaching career, thanks to encouraging professors like David Cayton. My sympathy to his family.
stephen kilborn
February 9, 2015
Sorry to hear of Davids passing. I took a prints class with him at BGSU and learn much about block printing which I still use after 40 years.
Jeanine Ferreri Alberti
February 9, 2015
David Cayton was my printmaking teacher at BGSU in the early 1970s. He ranks up there as one of my 5 top teachers in my life. He taught me the concept of "less is more" in my prints. His warmth, kindness, sense of humor, and creative spirit made his class one not to be missed... ever... (and it was the 70s!). Printmaking with David and Life Drawing with Tom Hilty were my favorite art classes during my stay from 1970-74. Although, my fiber class with Max Lenderman was pretty cool, too. Kind Tom Davenport introduced me to the Elements of Design and Mary Wolfe made Art History come alive for me. Bob Mazur inspires me more now in my "retirement" paintings than when I was a kid...
I became an elementary school teacher for most of my career and ended my career in middle school (who knew I would love 7th graders!!!) and was 5 days shy of 30 years of teaching when I retired in 2013.
Thank you, "Mr. Cayton", for sharing your unique style of art with me, for being a superb and gentle teacher, and for paving the way for a career that I just loved. God bless you and rest in peace. My prayers go out to your family, as well.
Sincerely, Jeanine Ferreri Alberti
Paul and Nancy Smithers
February 6, 2015
What an honor it was for me to have been an
insurance and investment adviser to David, Susan
and the girls. I received more than I gave. Our
thoughts and prayers are with you Susan as you
travel this life without your soul mate.
Kathie & Mike Geib
February 6, 2015
David was one of the finest gentleman I have had the privilege to meet. He seemed to have an exuberance for life that showed in that twinkle in his eyes. He was such a supporter of my son and his family and their endeavor to follow their passion. Please know you are in our thoughts and he will be remembered and greatly missed.
Kristen Martincic
February 6, 2015
I am so sorry to hear of David's passing. I was one of his students at BGSU in his last semester teaching there before retiring... it was an oil based screen print class and we learned everything from building frames, stretching screens, to experimenting with materials, and making lots & lots of prints. He had a wonderful energy & enthusiasm for making and playing with materials that was infectious. I feel really lucky to have gotten to study with him. I went on to get my MFA and to teach printmaking to others. My thoughts are with his family & friends.
Marion & Sharon Kerr
February 6, 2015
R.I.P. our loved and respected friend. We will always remember you as a wonderful human being, artist, printer and the "most read" individual we have had to pleasure to know. God Bless Susan and family in their healing.. Marion & Sharon Kerr (friends and neighbor)
Susan LeMaitre
February 6, 2015
To Susan and your family; I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My heart goes out to you! You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers. I will be thinking of you and wishing you peace in the days ahead.
Deb Yeagle
February 6, 2015
May our Lord comfort you during this difficult time and forever until you are together in heaven.
David LaPlantz
February 6, 2015
My heart and prayers for healing and peace to you. David and I were at BGSU at the same time in the 1964-66, when I graduated. He was an inspiration, a wonderful person and by all means a fabulous artist. I thought the world of him and am sad to hear of his final transition. May your world without David live in the best memories you live within. Know that your family is in my thoughts and prayers during the next few days. Love, David LaPlantz, BGSU, 1962-1966.
Janet Ballweg
February 6, 2015
Dear Susan and family, I am so saddened to hear of David's death. I had great fondness and respect for Dave as a colleague, mentor, and fellow printmaker. In fact, back in 1997 as Dave was retiring and I was transitioning into running the print studio, my son gave me a puppet that looked a bit like Dave - it had a bushy white mustache and a cap. My son deemed it "Super Dave" in honor of David. That puppet has hung in my office ever since to remind me of Dave's legacy and all that he taught me. He will be greatly missed, but Dave's spirit lives on in the many faculty and students whose lives he touched with his kindness, generosity, humor, and talent.
Linda S. Schalk
February 6, 2015
To the entire Cayton family and Glori in particular...in Spanish we say, les acompaño en su pesar...I accompany you in your pain. Please know that my extended family across the globe will walk with you in their prayers every day. Everyday we will know that the legacy of your husband, dad, and papa will continue to live in each of you and keep you in our prayers. May your find comfort in our prayers and feel our prayerful hugs. Abrazos-
Nancy Wikoff Leetch
February 6, 2015
Although I did not have David for any of my graduate classes, he always treated me as a fellow artist and was kind and encouraging. Susan was the same--down to earth and easy to talk with. Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Susan, and your family.
February 6, 2015
To Sue and family, David's passing is truly a loss for us and all that knew him. He was a great friend,MENTOR,and neighbor. I am sure that Heaven is rejoicing his arrival with us! Our love, friendship and prayers go out to you. Bob and Freda Friedley,
Susan Cayton
February 6, 2015
A big THANK YOU to all who knew, worked with, learned from, helped, taught and loved him. David was truly a "Renaissnce Man"; a very talented, funny, clever, inquisitive, yet humble man and a wonderful brother, husband, father, grandfather, friend, artist and believer. We will thank God everyday for sharing him with us.
Thank you for being part of his life on this earth.
Family of David L. Cayton
Cat Crotchett
February 5, 2015
Dave was a thoughtful, caring, generous individual and a wonderful teacher. I couldn't have imagined a better graduate mentor. My sympathies to Susan and his family. He will be greatly missed.
Tim Kays
February 5, 2015
My sincerest of sympathies to the family. I met Mr. Cayton when I was young, at the funeral of his mother (and my third grade teacher), Iva. I attended the funerals of both his parents, both teachers of excellence who raised a son who was the same.
May peace and comfort be yours in this sorrowful time.
Rachel Sneed
February 5, 2015
My heart and prayers are with you. May God surround you with His love and peace, and uphold you by His grace.
Sheilia Huffman
February 5, 2015
Susan my heart goes out to all your family. David was always such a good friend to my dad Bud Dyer. Just wanted to let you know that I'm thinking of you all and you are all in my prayers. Sheiia Huffman Bud's daughter
Diane Thorpe
February 5, 2015
I will always remember my hours spent in the printmaking studio learning from such a knowledgeable sharing and talented artist...and years later fron his ceramics knowledge once I had my own classroom. He influenced and inspired so many of us BGSU art alums....a true blessing to us all. Thoughts and prayers to the family.
Rick Finch
February 5, 2015
I'm very sorry for your loss. David was a great guy, always there with a smile and a laugh. I cherish the pipes and the ring jug he made me. My condolences to you Susan and the entire family.
John C. Lavezzi
February 5, 2015
David Cayton was one of the finest colleagues I had at the School of Art, both as a person and as an artist (I have examples of his superb printmaking and of his imaginative pottery in my small collection). His was an early and valued friendship, and he will be missed.
My condolences to Susan and the family.
I did these David Cayton's Class
Danielle Davis
February 5, 2015
My heart hearts finding out this sad news…I loved David Cayton (Mentor/He was a second dad... to us art school kids)…he was my favorite art professor…he made me love art and the process of being an artist. He will be forever in our hearts.
Michelle Gamby-Scott
February 5, 2015
Susan,Carrie & Glori- My heart broke when I received the news. I was overwhelmed with great sadness he is gone and happiness knowing he has gone to be with the Lord and enjoying the kingdom of Heaven. He was the sweetest, most kind and talented person I have ever met. I was a little girl when I met him. My dad told me he was taking me to meet an artist. Which in my mind was like meeting a rock star. I had told my dad I wanted to make sure my socks matched my outfit because after all; an artist would notice something like that. I was nervous and excited and when I finally met him he had a kind smile and a mustache that curled on the ends and he WAS a rockstar!! I have always admired him and your family for your creativity, kindness and your devotion to God. Heaven got another angel on Feb 1st. My deepest sympathies to you all, he will be greatly missed.
Andrew Carpenter
February 5, 2015
So sorry for your loss. I was one of the many students that had Mr. Cayton as a professor in printmaking back in the 1970's. I learned a lot from him and enjoyed his sense of humor and enthusiasm. I remember those days fondly. May he rest in peace and you have my sincerest condolences.
Harry & Rose Mary Schroeder
February 5, 2015
Dear Susan & Family,
We are so very sorry to hear this sad news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Harry & Rose Mary Schroeder
Kelli Kling
February 5, 2015
I'm sorry to hear this news, Sue. Please know our hearts are with you and your family.
Ann Tubbs
February 5, 2015
Dear Susan, We were so sad to hear of David's death--please accept our deepest sympathy for you and your family! He was a kind and generous person, always thoughtful, always helpful, and I truly appreciated his sense of humor and ability to consider all sides of a subject. I will miss him!
Ann and Bruce Tubbs
G & KT Scott
February 5, 2015
David was a warm, wonderful man whom we had the pleasure of only recently meeting. Though our time together was brief, we thoroughly enjoyed our time with him and his family. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Diane Hunter
February 4, 2015
I look around the house and see all my Cayton print and pottery treasures. How lucky I am to have known the Cayton's. Dave was a treasure himself. I'm sorry for your loss, Susan.
Diane Hunter
Melissa Walters-Mellott
February 4, 2015
Glori, I am very sorry to hear about your dad. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Although this time is difficult, I hope you can find comfort in knowing he is with the Lord and watching over you each and every day! Love to you all!
Frances Kline
February 4, 2015
Dave will be missed. He was a special person. Always had time to talk. The Toledo Potters Guild and 577.
Mark Kelly
February 4, 2015
Jim, Martha and Family......do you remember when I took a bite out of Russell's big toe in your living room? And do you know I still have a picture of me on my Davy Crockett bike in front of your house. And remember we made leaf houses in your front yard?
But most of all I remember posing for David in the summer in your backyard for a portrait. That was 1958 when I was 7 years old. A very hard task for a kid to sit still for sooooo long. Much to my surprise, before graduation in 1969, Russel told me he had a gift for me.......David gave him that portrait to give to me. And 45+ years later, I still cherish it.
You were a good family, good neighbors and good people. My condolences to your extended family and may God bless you all.
Mark Kelly
Ps. I will pass this along to Larry and Connie
[email protected]
February 4, 2015
"A part of me is gone......a part of him resides......"
Becky Colon
February 4, 2015
Mr. Cayton was my favorite professor at BGSU. We developed a wonderful relationship while I was there. He taught me so much not only about art but how to be a truly great teacher. He challenged me in wonderful ways and gave me the freedom to explore and express myself. I would often wander into his office and we would talk about everything and anything. Sometimes we would sit and play on the computer. He taught me more in his silence than in his words. I will miss that wonder mustache. I am so sorry for your loss, a loss to us all.
Linda Auld
February 4, 2015
Susan and family, So sorry for your loss. I have so many good memories of time spent with you and Dave. He will be greatly missed. You are ever in my thoughts and prayers. May God comfort all in this time of grief.
Holly Monsos
February 4, 2015
Susan, I'm so sorry to learn of your loss. David will be truly missed.
Ann Hymel
February 4, 2015
I met Mr. Cayton when I was looking for a weird pottery mix. He had me sit down and explain what I was doing with it. He invited me to see his studio. Whenever he saw my truck parked at my studio, he would drop in and he always had a story. He blessed me.
Ginny Ferguson
February 4, 2015
Susan please accept my sincere condolences to you and your family.
Ohio Valley Natural Fibers
Toledo Area Weavers Guild
February 4, 2015
Susan, Our sincere condolences to you and your family. David's humor and talent will be sorely missed.
Kelly Savino
February 4, 2015
David Cayton was not only a potter -- he was an artist, an author, a printmaker, a family man, a prof, an inventor, a wizard and a jokester. From the jackalope on his studio wall to the handlebar moustache that impressed my little ones on clay runs, he was a unique man with a million ideas. He will be missed.
February 4, 2015
Dave, I will always remember your insight and words of wisdom, and the wonderful work you made, especially the black clay pieces.
February 4, 2015
David Cayton was one of the finest gentlemen I had the honor of knowing. When I was a graduate student in the late 1980s, Professor Cayton taught me to etch, aquatint and pull a good print; how to teach with confidence; he showed me the value of work and how to find humor in that work. He was patient with his students and devoted to his teaching. And beyond all this, David was a good person with a kind, quiet and generous heart. I think I am a better person having known him, having spent a few years in his fine company. David Sapp, Berlin Heights, Ohio
Joyce & Brian Donahue
February 4, 2015
Susan and family, it was an honor to have known Dave, and be engaged by his excellent ceramic work. Both my husband and I enjoyed spending extra time with Dave, while we picked up ceramic supplies. May fond memories help you all through these coming days!
Corky Dunsmore
February 4, 2015
The passing of a legend. He seemed to know all of us in the clay community and he did so much more.
Sue Stewart
February 4, 2015
Erin already said it all and well. David was a generous person sharing his knowledge and his wisdom which influenced so many. I remember a visit to his studio (to buy clay) and a tour of his home to see more art. His talent, generousity and charm will be missed
February 3, 2015
Dave, you were a great mentor to many of us graduate students at BGSU. You helped us be better teachers, artists and people. You were inspiring.....thank you for sharing your life with us..we carry your legacy on every day in the classroom.
Erin Palmer Szavuly, BFA 1985, MFA 1988 BGSU.
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