Jeffery Sobal

Jeffery Sobal, 74, a thirty-five year resident of Ithaca, passed away on August 3rd after complications following surgery.

Born in Gary, Indiana, the oldest of four brothers, Jeff worked in a local steel mill during summers to put himself through college. 

Jeff attained an undergraduate degree in Biology at Bucknell, followed by a Master’s Degree and PhD in Sociology from the University of Pennsylvania. He added a Master of Public Health in Behavioral Science, Nutrition, and Epidemiology from Johns Hopkins University.

Jeff Sobal was a sociologist who applied social science theory and methods to the understanding of food choices, eating, and nutrition. He advanced the understanding of why weight is so strongly stigmatized in our society. 

Jeff came to Cornell in 1989, having spent earlier years teaching at Gettysburg College and the University of Maryland. As a social scientist, he was a key contributor to the rise of scholarship, teaching, and practice in Community Nutrition at Cornell. Generations of colleagues and graduate students valued Jeff as a generous and skillful collaborator in their work.

Before he passed, Jeff succeeded in visiting all 63 of our national parks, finishing with New River Gorge earlier this year. 

Jeff was predeceased by his first wife, Robin Treon. He is survived by his wife, Andrea Volckmar, and his three younger brothers, David, Tom, and Larry Sobal, their wives and children. 

A private celebration of Jeff's life will be planned for some time in the future. Photos and memories may be shared at www.online-tribute.com/JefferySobal.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Hospicare of Ithaca in his memory.