Hardage Giddens 4053- 850 Saint Johns Bluff Rd
Steven Fred Alger passed away on August 23, 2021 at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Janet M. Alger, his sister, Julie Bevilaqua (John), brother, William Alger (Susan) and several nieces and nephews. He was born in Holliston, Mass. and completed his undergraduate degree at The University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He obtained his Masters and Ph.D. degrees at Yale University in Sociology in 1971.
Prof. Alger taught sociology at The University of Illinois at Chicago until 1976 and then returned to the northeast to teach sociology at The College of St. Rose from 1976 until his retirement 2007.
As a teacher he was patient and caring and excellent at communicating difficult material to students. He maintained contact with several of them after retirement. His research was in the new sub-field of human/animal interaction. He and his wife, also a sociologist, were part of a group of sociologists working to obtain recognition of this new area of research by the American Sociological Association. In 2001 they gave us "section in formation" status and the following year permanent status. This was important in becoming a sub-field of sociology because now those doing research on this topic would be rewarded when their papers were accepted to be given at meetings.
With his wife he co-authored the book "Cat Culture: The Social World of a Cat Shelter" as well as a number of articles and papers given at meetings.
In 2012, after he retired, he and his wife moved to Jacksonville, Florida where he lived until his death.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Hardage-Giddens Chapel Hills, 850 St. Johns Bluff Rd .N, Jacksonville, FL 32225.
Contributions may be sent to the National Parkinson's Disease Foundation or any of the many animal welfare associations such as HSUS or, locally, Whiskers.
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