The “WOULD BE SHEPARD BOY”

Andreas Michael Kazamias passed away peacefully on August 15, 2026. He was born in the mountain village of Kalopanayiotis, Cyprus on November 6, 1927 to Michael and Androniki Kazamias.

Andreas was educated on scholarships: the English School, Nicosia, Cyprus; the University of Bristol, United Kingdom; the University of Kansas, Hays, Kansas; and Harvard University. He was awarded an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from the University of Bristol as well as the University of Athens, University of Crete and Jannina, Greece. He was elected to the Academy of Athens. He was considered to be the “Grandfather” of Comparative Education, the academic pursuit that he followed with zest, compassion, integrity and challenge.

He was the author of over 30 books and numerous articles in the fields of Comparative Education and History, which have been translated into 13 languages.

He founded the Greek Societies of Comparative Education and the History of Education. He was President of the Comparative International Education Society, editor of the Comparative Education Review and the Harvard Education Review. His concepts of THE OWL OF ATHENA and PAIDEIA OF THE SOUL have always been controversial themes at international conferences.

After “the Gods banished him to Wisconsin”, his sixty years of teaching and research in the Department of EDUCATIONAL POLICY STUDIES at the University of Wisconsin-Madison was his academic life and until the end he held and remembered his colleagues in the highest regard and with great pride and respect.

He considered himself a citizen of the world BUT definitely a GREEK (and an avid Badger and Green Bay Packers fan). He will always be known for his enthusiasm, a twinkle in his eye, a skip in his walk and a chance to dance. One of greatest joys was his daily “conversations with Socrates” and being known as a Socratic gadfly!

He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Valerie, of Madison, Wisconsin, his son Michael (and wife Deborah Roloson) and his grandchildren, Nicholas and Alexandra, of Atlanta Georgia, and many relatives around the globe.

Memorials may be made to the KAZAMIAS GRADUATE AWARD FUND, University of Wisconsin Foundation, by mail at US Bank Lockbox 78807, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53278 or online by https://secure.supportuw.org/give/ (search Find Your Cause and Kazamias). 

A private family memorial will be held at the cemetery of the poets (Mt. Auburn), Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Good night my sweet Prince, may a host of angels sing Lullabies at your resting place.

Honey mou, I love you and will be with you soon,

Yours, Valerie💕💕💕💕

Cress Funeral & Cremation Services

3610 Speedway Rd    Madison

608-238-3434