Christopher Bates Doob
January 30, 1941 ~ May 20, 2025
Born in:
New Haven, Connecticut
Resided in:
Woodbridge, Connecticut
Christopher Bates Doob, 84, died peacefully on Tuesday, May 20, 2025 at his home in Woodbridge. Doob was born in New Haven in 1941, the son of Leonard W. Doob and Eveline Bates. He was a teacher, writer, and Emeritus Professor of Sociology at Southern Connecticut State University. He published many books, some of which went into multiple editions, including Racism: An American Cauldron; Social Inequality and Social Stratification in US Society; and The Anatomy of Competition in Sports. Doob grew up in Woodbridge and moved back there with his family in 2001. He graduated from Oberlin (BA 1962, MA 1967) and earned his doctorate from Cornell (PhD, 1967). In the late sixties, Doob was a social research scientist for the New York Department of Social Services where, among other things, he studied a federally funded agency that assisted the poor in Schenectady, and he also conducted research in East Harlem. Doob was a full-time faculty member at Southern Connecticut State University from 1970 to 2005, after which he taught part-time for another six years. In later years, he turned to appearing on radio shows to be interviewed about sports and writing opinion pieces for the New Haven Register on a wide range of subjects, from his permanent interests and concerns about social issues, to friendship and his life with animals, including three beloved dogs. Through these different activities, including teaching and writing, he was always focused on making a contribution, however modest, to his community, and making us aware of the problems and possibilities of change in our country.
Doob was a sports enthusiast in his life as well as his writing, cheering on the New York Yankees and UConn basketball teams. He was a lover of nature, animals, and the ocean, and often spoke about the sailboat he had had as a young man. He traveled widely throughout his life and lived in Uganda for about a year as a teenager. He had been a soccer player and track athlete, and later became a race walker, even entering local competitions. He was also a long-time volunteer in adult education programs in New Haven. He was a supportive, loving father and husband who will be remembered both for his humor and gentleness and for the fire of his convictions. His family recalls so many meaningful moments with him, such as listening to The Hobbit on tape at Christmas time, walking together at Sleeping Giant State Park, body surfing on Cape Cod, and playing catch together, him with a baseball glove and his daughter with her lacrosse stick.
He is survived by his wife of forty years, Teresa Carballal, who he met by chance when they were both traveling in Morocco in 1982, and his daughter, Gabriella Doob, her husband Samuel Chotiner-Gardner, and two grandchildren, Siena Chotiner Gardner and Damien Bates Gardner; his brother Anthony Doob, his wife Pat Baranek, their son Joshua and his wife Karina and daughter Naomi; his brother Nicholas Doob, his wife Linda Atkinson, and their son Crockett. An informal gathering of family and friends will be held at his home in the summer to remember and celebrate his life. Arrangements in care of Beecher & Bennett Funeral Home, Hamden, CT. To send a condolence, see obituary at www.beecherandbennett.com.
I had the good fortune of having Chris as my sociology professor in 1970 while a student at SCSC. He was an excellent teacher and clearly opened my eyes to viewing the world from different perspectives. He made learning both fun and exciting. My condolences to his family. Dr. Doob literally impacted thousands of students over his distinguished academic career