Doris R. Northrup

Just days after her 90th birthday, Doris Ruth Northrup passed away peacefully, holding the hands of her daughters. In true form, Doris expertly orchestrated her death, from the moment she received the terminal diagnosis a mere week before.

On August 21st, Doris was happily sipping a Campari and soda, surrounded by her children and grandchildren, celebrating her 90th. We toasted her wonderful, and often against all odds life. Doris, Mom, Nana. She will be missed beyond words for all of our days.

Doris was born in Cleveland, Ohio, on August 29th, 1936, and lived her young life in Pittsburgh, PA, along with her parents, Irma and Donald Northrup, and her siblings, Donna (predeceased), Noel (Portland, OR), and Frank (Tucson, AZ). She went to Carnegie Tech for undergrad and University of Illinois of for graduate school. Shortly after, she married Robert E. Krug. While their marriage was short, it produced her three beloved daughters: Alison Roberta Beman (MD), Robin Anne Krug (PA), and Erica Lynn Krug (MA). Doris moved to Washington, D.C., in the early 60’s and remained there until 2023 when she moved to Kennett Square, PA, to be closer to daughter, Robin. Doris’ grandchildren, Veronica Saylor Beman (MD), Joshua Harrison (Hank) Kelly (PA), and Nicholas (Nico) Beach Krug Weinberg (MA), were all able to be with Doris at both her 90th celebration, and again during her final days. Doris is predeceased by her step-daughters, also from her first marriage, Terry Werner and Leslie Wright. Doris married John R. Ward in the 1980s. Although they divorced in the mid 1990s, they remained close until his death in 2018. Doris had a distinguished career in social science research, serving as a key leader and mentor at Westat Research, a Rockville, Maryland, company she helped to build during the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. She later founded CODA where she remained until retirement. As her business success increased, she was a mentor to many young women (and men) coming up in the research field, and she built a network of friends that lasted her lifetime.

She loved her work, and loved her leisure time, traveling the world with friends, playing piano, going to shows, concerts, museums, and visiting her family and friends around the world. In retirement, Doris continued all of her interests, including traveling to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East multiple times. Rehoboth Beach, DE, and her balcony overlooking the boardwalk was her happy place. She will be missed by friends all over the world.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the institutions Doris supported wholeheartedly for many years:

The Hospital and Rehabilitation Center for Disabled Children in Nepal, currently fielding mobile medical clinics to the disaster zone from the glacier collapse catastrophe.

American Civil Liberties Union

Arrangements are by Grieco Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc. of Kennett Square (484-734-8100). To share a memory with her family, please visit www.griecofunerals.com.