Herbert Maccoby

Professor Herbert Maccoby, 89, died in Oakland, California on February 26, 2012. Professor Maccoby was a sociologist, associate professor and lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley from 1957 to 1961 and from 1964 to 1971. From 1971 to 1985, he was a professor of sociology at the University of Maine at Orono, where he was Chairman of the Department of Sociology for several years. Professor Maccoby also taught at the University of Pittsburgh and Kansas State University. He authored a number of articles and papers on political sociology and the cooperative movement. Professor Maccoby was born in Cleveland, Ohio on May 16, 1922. He was the youngest of eight children born to Hyam and Deborah Maccoby. He was valedictorian and president of his graduating class at Glenville High School, as well as a member of the track team. Although he was accepted to Harvard College, his father died shortly before his high school graduation, so he elected to attend Western Reserve University in order to stay in Cleveland and help support his mother. After graduating from college in three years, Professor Maccoby served in the 44th Infantry Division in France, Germany and Austria during World War II. He remained in Germany after the war to work in the Military Government. Professor Maccoby received his M.A. in economics from Columbia University in 1949, and a Ph.D. in sociology from Columbia University in 1955. Professor Maccoby was a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the American Sociological Association, and the American Association of University Professors. He was an avid tennis player, and one of the founding members of Congregation Netivot Shalom in Berkeley, California. Professor Maccoby and his wife retired to Berkeley in 1985, and they later moved to an adult community in Oakland, California. Professor Maccoby is survived by his wife, Babette Frank Maccoby, of Oakland, California; by children Gina Maccoby, of Chappaqua, New York, and Matthew Maccoby, of Santa Monica, California; and by seven grandchildren. He was predeceased by his older son, Daniel Maccoby, of Walton-on-Thames, England. Condolences may be expressed by email to matthew.maccoby@aporter.com