Jeffrey Cabot Koob departed his earthly life in Columbia on January 24th, 2023. He was born to William Lindsay Koob, Jr. and Mary Wall Koob on December 4th, 1948 in occupied Japan.
After earning an ROTC scholarship from Columbus High School in Georgia, Jeff followed in his father’s and brother’s footsteps to attend The Citadel. Commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the US Army following his graduation in 1970 he was stationed in Germany, where he successfully implemented a race relations program for American units. It was in Germany that he met and married Doris, a lovely woman who remained his lifelong friend even after an amicable divorce several years later. After his four years in the Army the couple settled in Carrolton, Georgia where Jeff earned a Masters Degree in Psychology from West Georgia College. In his decades-long career as a Clinical Psychologist Jeff’s analytical acumen, compassion and innovative therapies helped countless patients improve their lives.
After his divorce, Jeff met and married his boss, Maria, a Psychiatric Nurse at a clinic in Beaufort. Later the couple settled in Columbia where they both became respected members of the local Clinical Psychology community.
Jeff, an outspoken progressive activist, participated in local demonstrations and was a frequent contributor to the op-ed page of The State newspaper. The couple took two years off to volunteer for the Peace Corps in Jamaica, chronicling their experiences in Jeff’s book, “Two Years in Kingston Town.” Following the 9/11 attack Jeff and Maria counseled traumatized first responders as Red Cross volunteers.
Jeff was creative. He was an accomplished writer, publishing “Ad Nauseam,” a book about the perils of manipulative advertising. He created a blog, jeffkooblog.com. He was an artist, creating hundreds of unique and striking illustrations.
Jeff was a passionate, multi-talented man. He was a champion of Social Justice, a man of integrity, a man who loved poetry, music and art. Above all, he was a good man. He will be missed by his family and his many friends.
Jeff was briefly survived by his wife, Maria Diana Madeo who succumbed to illness while in hospice care six weeks after his death. Jeff is survived by his older brother, William Lindsay Koob, III, his nephew Todd B. Koob and Todd’s wife Lisa and their children Nicholas, Benjamin, and Katie and by Jeff’s sister Laurie Koob Britton, her husband Doug, and their children, stepson Doug and daughter Melissa, and by Jeff’s ex-wife, Doris.
Family and friends will gather in April for “A Celebration of Two Lives Well-Lived.” In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Friends of Congaree National Park where Jeff and Maria volunteered.