Dr. Grant Walter Shoffstall (44) of Effingham
Published on June 13 2022 3:08 pm
Dr. Grant Walter Shoffstall, 44, died on Wednesday, June 8.
A native of Effingham, Grant received his BA and MA in sociology from Illinois State University, and his PhD in sociology from University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. One of the world’s experts on the cryonics movement, he taught classes at Illinois Wesleyan, University of Illinois, and Williams College, before joining the sociology department at Rowan University.
Against the idea that science discredits and replaces religion in the modern era, Grant’s work documented the movements in which technology begins to function as a religion in its own right. His big point, argued in his recent work for Nova Religio and in his great but uncompleted social history of cryonic suspension in America, was that sociologists of science and technology were going to have to learn from the sociologists of religion, that fields usually treated as distinct were going to have to function as one. His last article identified some of the mechanisms that observers use to police the boundaries between science and religion. Such policing, Grant argued, made it hard to talk about what happens when such boundaries fall—when, that is, people make a religion of technology, as they do with surprising frequency. Grant was himself a crosser of intellectual boundaries, combining a mastery of high social theory with the disciplines of archival history and literary criticism.
Friends throw out many adjectives to describe Grant: lovely, smart, wily, troubled, good-humored, sweet, loving, open-minded—a true mensch, a big man with a presence as commanding as it was kind. Grant would fill a space; friends and family are already noting how much emptier rooms feel without him. In Grant’s company, others were always well fed, well listened to, well-loved, well taught, held close.
When Grant married Stephanie, his best man stated that there was nothing that he didn’t put his whole heart into: his hobbies, his academic work, his friendships, his mentorship, and his art. Inspiration arrived from all directions. It was easy to spot Grant’s love for animals, comic books, horror movies, cooking, comedy, science fiction, and, above all, heavy metal. Metal was the throughline, the paradigm for all of Grant’s other activities: As a sociologist, as a teacher, as a pit-master—everywhere, he shredded.
As a father, too, Grant was totally metal. At 40, he broke his arm sneaking out after dark to teach himself to skate well enough to pass it on to Oliver. From the moment he knew that his son was going to be born, Grant’s eyes stayed lit. Grant knew that raising a child took purpose and care and the loving collaboration of many adults. It was important to him to engage and encourage Oliver to develop his own sense of creativity and self, while guiding his empathy and humor.
At bedtime, he introduced Oliver to Pete and Rant Rant—characters he made up, like off-kilter refugees from Mr. Rogers’ neighborhood, that made light of peoples’ shadow selves and dark sides. He wanted Oliver to know that you can love people and still find them ridiculous, or that you can find someone ridiculous and still love them. He also had a light-hearted way of acting out horror stories. And even before Oliver was born, every Shoffstall dog got its own human voice, ventriloquized by Grant in running canine monologues.
Always a teacher and sociologist, he wanted Oliver—and the rest of us—to know the importance of observing and questioning. He was known to take action against people who disregarded the common good. Stocking his car with sticky notes and pens, Grant was always spreading the message of vigilance and kindness. He felt the aggressive desire for people to do the next right thing. Stephanie was there to tell him when he went too far.
About Grant and Steph, a few facts are worth knowing: They became friends while both were working as junior staff at an alcohol and drug treatment center, allowing Grant to tell anyone who asked that they “met at rehab.” A few months after they started dating, he told a friend that “that is the woman I am going to marry,” and you could tell he meant it, because he was at a Steph’s-choice Cranberries concert when he said it, and the Cranberries definitely aren’t metal. He bought the engagement ring early but then had to propose to Steph impromptu at an Applebee’s after she found the ring jammed into his wallet, where he’d been carrying it for weeks. What you won’t need to be told is that he loved her, because that was obvious. He wore it.
Grant also cherished his relationship with his Grandma Adele, with whom he kept up an old-fashioned epistolary correspondence. He appreciated reading about her endeavors and would glow at her doting, her singing the song of his accomplishments. He also cherished his relationship with his sister, with whom he engaged in competitive cook-offs. His mother, Marilyn, speaks fondly of his performances in high-school theater and is proud to see how his life has touched so many people.
Grant is survived by his wife, Stephanie; his son, Oliver; his dog, Akia; his mother, Marilyn; his sister, Nicole; his grandmother, Adele, and his in-laws Marcia and Don Bunting, Anne Bunting, Joe Bunting, and Dennis (Brooke) Bunting, and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was also close to many colleagues, students, and neighbors. Grant was preceded in death by his father, Ronald Shoffstall; and his grandfather, Paul. Grant would wish us to point out that he was also preceded in death by his dogs Simon and Jurgen.
Grant was generous and forgiving. Anyone who knew him could immediately discern his sense of responsibility and humility, as well as his sensitivity to the feelings and thoughts of others. In this spirit, the family requests that celebrants wear masks, out of respect for their own safety and to honor his wishes.
A celebration of life will be held on Wednesday June 22, 2022 from 4-7pm at Bauer Funeral Home at 1212 West Evergreen Ave. Effingham, IL 62401. Afterwards, anyone who wants to join the family in a toast to Grant can meet at Pinkys at 8726 E Marine Rd, Effingham, IL 62401. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to the family for Oliver Shoffstall’s college education fund.