MORTUARY SCIENCE

Graduated in 1981
Owner, McCabe Funeral Home

Q: Why did you choose Wayne State?

A: I never considered any other mortuary school. My father (L. David McCabe) was a graduate of Wayne State's Mortuary Science program as well as most of his colleagues. I worked at the funeral home as a young man and almost all our funeral directors and apprentices went to Wayne State University.

Q: What inspired you to pursue Mortuary Science?

A. My father was diagnosed with cancer and my mother convinced me to get my mortuary science license just in case my father would not survive his diagnosis. I skipped a restorative arts class and made my first funeral arrangements with a family who would only meet with a McCabe. When the family thanked me for helping them out at a difficult time in their lives, I knew this was for me.

Q: Who was your most memorable instructor?

A: Dr. Gordon Rose. One of the smartest people I have ever met in my life. The fact that he could communicate with a common person like me proved his genius. As only great teachers can, Dr. Rose explained the complex in simple understandable ways and was also a great judge of character.

Q: Share some reflections about your time at Wayne State University:

A: It was a wonderful learning experience. A nice mix of funeral directors children (four fourth-generation future funeral directors), funeral home employees and students with no funeral home experience. It was wonderful to be able to learn from everyone, there were many different ideas and experiences.

Q: In your opinion, what is one of the biggest changes that has occurred in your profession since graduating?

A: The amount of people having limited memorial services or no services at all. Also, Pre-need or prepaying and pre-arranging your own service turned the funeral into a simple retail transaction. The funeral is not for the deceased, it is for the living.

Q: Share a career highlight or summary:

A: I have enjoyed being a funeral director for more than 40 years. A few highlights in my career are: 

1. Being a 4th generation funeral director in a funeral home founded by my great-grandfather in 1893.
2. I had the opportunity to get involved with a company called WR2 (WR squared). They had developed a process using Alkaline Hydrolysis to reduce people to a cremated state using water. This connection made me the subject matter of a New York Times best-selling book by Mary Roach called Stiff, the curious lives of human cadavers.
3. I also was elected by my colleagues to serve as the President of the Michigan Funeral Director's Association.

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Since 1939, the Wayne State University Mortuary Science program has been dedicated to educating and developing funeral service professionals who serve their communities with care and distinction.

Through traditional, online and hybrid programs, students benefit from high quality instruction and practical experiences that lay the foundation for their funeral service careers. Learn more about the application process and make plans to attend a college information meeting, held for prospective students at 6 p.m. on the first Tuesday of each month.

An anchor in urban health care

The Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is built on more than 100 years of tradition and innovation in the heart of Detroit. We have grown deep roots in our city, harnessing its powerhouse hospital systems and community service organizations as vibrant, real-world training grounds for students, with an ongoing focus on social justice in health care. And our research at all levels – from undergraduates to veteran faculty members – translates into creative solutions for healthier communities.

Wayne State University is a premier urban research institution offering approximately 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to nearly 24,000 students.