Christian Robert Sobin Memorial Fund

For Christi Sobin, January 17, 2022, was the day everything changed. Her son, Christian Robert Sobin, just 29, passed away from a synthetic opioid overdose after battling addiction for years. 

“He was a beautiful soul, and losing my son Christian was the most devastating moment of my life,” Christi said.  

Determined that her son would not be forgotten, Christi established the Christian Robert Sobin Memorial Fund at the Valley Community Foundation (VCF) in 2022 as a Build-a-Fund. In 2025, after two successful fundraising events in his honor, the donor advised fund became fully endowed to help individuals in the Valley who are battling addiction. 

Christian’s story is rooted in the Valley. Born in New Haven and raised in Derby, he graduated from Ansonia High School, where he and his twin brother, Julian, were standout athletes. He earned All-Valley honors for baseball and was named to the All-NVL football team. Yet behind his accomplishments, Christian faced a challenge that began his freshman year when a broken leg required pain medication. In the end, fentanyl would take his life. 

“The Valley is where we built our lives,” Christi said. “Addiction affects every neighborhood here. This fund is my commitment to help someone else that is struggling.”