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Professor Emeritus of Sociology Robert "Bob" Earl Washington passed away on Feb. 17, 2025. Washington was born in 1941 in West Point, Miss. A champion high school football player, Washington enrolled at Michigan State University but sustained a serious sports injury early in his time there. He subsequently moved to New York City, working in a bookstore until re-entering college at Columbia University in 1962. Between his undergraduate degree and doctoral studies, Washington entered the Peace Corps and spent two years in Jalalabad, Afghanistan, teaching English and psychology to Afghan medical students. Upon his return to the U.S., Washington enrolled at the University of Chicago, where he completed his doctorate in sociology, his thesis focusing on the sociology of African American literature. 

91̽�� was Washington’s first job out of graduate school in 1971, and he remained at the college for a remarkable 49-year career, retiring in 2020. Initially attracted to the college by then-President Harris Wofford, a co-founder of the Peace Corps, Washington became the first African American hire in Arts and Sciences for the College.   

Over the years, Washington taught a variety of courses at 91̽��, including social theory, race relations, urban sociology, sociology of sports, and his professed favorite: sociology of deviance. Washington also taught abroad in Kenya, South Africa, and South Asia. He spent numerous summers engaged in ethnographic work in East Africa, where he explored deviant survival strategies of unemployed young people in Nairobi and Mombasa. Both his college and professional service were extensive and his many peer-reviewed articles and books were capped by The Ideologies of African American Literature: From The Harlem Renaissance To The Black Nationalist Revolt (recipient of the Choice Magazine Editors Award for outstanding academic book) and three books on the sociology of sport, co-written and co-edited with colleague David Karen. 

Colleagues and former students had abiding affection for Washington, gratitude for his caring mentorship, and deep respect for his extraordinary intellect. Karen reflected, “A remarkable constant in my relationship with Bob over the 40-plus years that I knew him was that I learned something new in every interaction. We collaborated on articles, chapters, and three anthologies; we attended many jazz concerts; we went to ballgames; and we shared many meals. Always a delight and an adventure, being in Bob’s presence meant that you’d be heard and appreciated and that you’d be dazzled by his questions, comments, and insights.” Similarly, Professor Enrique Sacerio-Garí treasured that “from the very beginning of my arrival at 91̽�� in 1977, Bob was a trusted colleague, a friend with a welcoming office where I spent countless hours getting to know his 91̽�� and engaging in conversations about literature and society.” 

Professor and former Provost Mary Osirim was one of many to cite his great support of younger scholars. “Bob was such an important mentor to me in my early years at the College, and I never ceased to be in awe of Bob’s knowledge, intellect, and the broad range of his interests in sociology,” she said. “Our strong commitment to the African American experience and African development led us to join with his friend and colleague, Professor Phil Kilbride, to establish the Africana Studies Program at the College.”  

Professor Kalala Ngalamulume lauded “his friendship, guidance, and support over the years. Bob welcomed me in the Africana Studies program with an open heart. He helped me understand the College culture and the community and was a source of support during challenging times. His dedication to his teaching and scholarship inspired me to grow professionally.”

Washington was widely beloved by the decades of young scholars under his tutelage, and his teachings profoundly shaped so many of his students, not only in the classroom, but well into their lives. Paola Bernal ’17 shared, “In today’s political climate, where so much is contested, his insights into culture and social movements feel more urgent than ever. He didn’t just teach sociology––he gave us a lens to understand power, resistance, and the slow grind of change.”   

Others will remember his tremendous support of students of color. Alisha Clark ’18 felt that in addition to being challenged by Washington’s “intellectually rigorous lectures to think critically and engage the world with purpose,” he also “became a trusted mentor during my time as the first Black SGA President––a role made possible by the path he helped forge. I am forever grateful for his wisdom, guidance, and lasting legacy at the College.”   

Sia Nowrojee ’89 reflected, “He was always so kind, particularly to international students and students of color, letting us know that he was always there for us. And he was one of those rare people with quiet yet outsized influence––a great teacher who taught us how to think for ourselves. He challenged us and demanded that we challenge each other. He influenced how we saw and understood the world”.  

Washington is survived by his partner of over two decades, Rose Makofske ’78, M.A. ’81; brothers Ernest D. Washington, Jr. and Gerold E. Washington; nephews Craig Washington, Corey Washington, and Kyle Washington; and nieces Deborrah Washington, Uvalda Anderson, and Yolanda Dickerson.