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Donate Former AMS member Camilla Cai died peacefully on 3 June 2026, in Farmington, Maine, with her husband, Michael Field, at her side.
A renowned musicologist with an expertise in piano and 19th century music, especially that of Germany and Scandinavia, Cai uplifted women composers and was deeply connected to her Norwegian heritage. She enjoyed folk dancing and hiking.
She taught for 19 years at Kenyon College in Ohio, retiring to Farmington, Maine in 2005 with her husband, where she was active in the historical society and the cultural life in the small university town and continued spending time in Europe every year until 2020.
Predeceased by her father, Einar Haugen, her mother, Eva Lund Haugen and her sister Anne Littlefield, she will be deeply missed by her husband, Michael Field, her son, Elliot Polak, her stepchildren, Andrea Field and Ethan Contini-Field, her niece Evelyn Zaloudek, her nephews Otis and Dredd Littlefield and her seven grandchildren, Nina, Ulysse, Lancelot, Rosie, Isabelle, Reuben and Ember as well as many beloved members of an extended family that stretched across generations and continents and an impressive collection of stuffed bunny rabbits.
In keeping with her wishes, Camilla donated her body to science, a final act of generosity from a life devoted to learning and discovery. Her family will gather next summer to celebrate her life.
More information on the life and work of Camilla Cai is available on Kenyon College’s website.
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