Howard Gallup, (1927-2020) was born in New London, Connecticut and grew up in Newark, New Jersey, which might account for his zestful, do-it-yourself approach to so much in his life. His father, Wallace Gallup, a Presbyterian minister, passed on to Howard his attentiveness to his low-income parishioners and to the general need for equal rights for minorities. Howard’s mother was Edna Eudora Ketcham Gallup. Howard had one older sister, Edith Specht, who predeceased him. Howard enlisted in the Navy just at the end of World War II. Trained in airplane mechanics, he maintained the Navy’s aircraft.
Howard, who loved learning, attended Rutgers University as an undergraduate. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. A dedicated student, Howard was a member of the Phi Beta Kappa society.
Howard first taught at Hobart College. In 1958, he became a professor at Lafayette College in Easton PA, where he taught experimental psychology for 37 years. He retired from his post as Chair of the Psychology Department at Lafayette in 1995. During the 1970’s, he was a visiting professor at Hampshire College in MA, and at Evergreen State College, WA.
During his academic career, Howard wrote a well-received and popular textbook for undergraduate psychology students, An Invitation to Modern Psychology (1969). Fascinated by theories of teaching, while teaching at Lafayette College he promoted a type of self-paced learning called the Keller Plan of Personalized Learning Instruction (PSI).
Howard met the love of his life, Frances (Kris) Platt, on a blind date. When he brought her back to her family’s home after their second date, he saw the Gilbert and Sullivan score for Pirates of Penzance on their piano. Having recently performed the lead role, Howard began to play and sing the score. His passion for music enchanted Kris, and he was equally thrilled that she also entertained a love for music. They fell in love on the spot, he used to say, and were married in 1949.
Kris Platt Gallup was a member of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers). Howard joined the Society of Friends, an affiliation he maintained for the rest of his life. Howard and Kris Gallup were married for over 70 years, until her death in January 2020. They had three loving children and in-laws, Joshua, his wife Josie, Brad, his wife Lei, and Sharrene, who predeceased her father. He had three grandsons, one step-grandson, four great granddaughters and a great grandson. Howard had many nieces and nephews: his sister Edith’s three children, as well as Kris’s sister, Helen’s seven children. Carol Hollingsworth Gruenburg, and her husband Drew unfailingly drove north from Virginia to visit Howard and Kris at least once a month until stopped by the spread of Coronavirus.
Howard maintained a renaissance passion for many fields. He was an avid classical pianist; Chopin was his most beloved composer. He ran a music concert series at Kirkland Village, where he and Kris lived in their retirement. Howard gave his own classical piano concerts for the residents and frequently played popular tunes at Kirkland’s Happy Hour.
His love of bicycling and mechanics led Howard to work for Tomias Hinchcliff at Genesis Bicycles, a store he cofounded in 1974. At the shop, Howard worked there for many years, repairing bikes and leading 100-mile bicycle rides for the surrounding community. He logged in over 85,000 personal miles.
In addition to bicycling, Howard loved photography. He and Kris took yearly road trips across the United States to visit their sons in California. Howard was proud of visiting, photographing, and bicycling in each of the lower 48 States, and in Canada, too, but he always said Yosemite was his favorite spot to visit.
His Quaker commitment led him to become a draft counselor in Easton PA, during the Vietnam War. Committed to civil rights, Howard helped integrate housing in Easton during the Civil Rights Era.
In 1968, Howard helped found ProJeCt of Easton after Dr. King’s assassination, as part of an interfaith effort. It is a four star rated charity that helps low-income and at risk youth and adults break the cycle of poverty.
In lieu of flowers, Howard asked those wishing to make a donation to please donate to ProJeCt of Easton
ProJeCt of Easton
320 Ferry Street
Easton, PA 18042
Phone: 610-258-4361
jrzeszowski@projecteaston.org
Howard died of Covid-19 in December 2020. In his memory please help stop the spread of Covid by wearing a mask and taking proper precautions.
Thom Bruggink
December 25, 2020 at 1:35 pm
Howard and I biked together many times. When I arrived at Lafayette as a young professor Howard sought me out to go biking. He was 20 years older than me but I could not keep up with him. So I bought a new bike. He liked long rides, especially in the Worthington Sate Park where we went along Old Mine Road. I always enjoyed my times with him because he kept a good pace but did not try to go fast. We had many great conversations along the way. And he was sensible–he walked up steep hills. Once I asked him where the passion for biking came from. His answer–so he could eat as much as he liked!
George Grim
December 27, 2020 at 10:44 am
Dr. Gallup was my first psychology professor at Lafayette. Of the many teachers I have had, he was the most energetic. He was entertaining and challenging with an obvious joy of life. He deserves some credit for my decision to become a psychologist for more than 40 years. One life can touch so many others.
Hansel de Sousa
January 2, 2021 at 4:09 pm
I first met Howard in July 2002, at the start of a bike ride from NCC. There had been an article in the newspaper about recreational group cycling in the Lehigh Valley, and although NCC was only a short cycling distance from my house, I managed to crash my new mountain bike on the way to the start. Howard took one look at my bloodied hand and knee and said “you’ll soon get addicted to cycling”. I was 53 and Howard 74, and for the next 7 years or so, I spent more awake time with Howard than with my wife. Every Saturday from Genesis, and every Tuesday from NCC, Howard led rides, starting the year slowly and ending up with all day, 70 – 80 mile rides in preparation for the Gap Gallop Century (no relation) organized by the Lehigh Wheelmen. Howard was the most patient man I ever met. For the first two years he waited for me at the top of every hill; there were many newcomers who came after me, and many flats to fix on the road, and I never saw an impatient side of him. I owe Howard a lot – probably many additional years to my life, for keeping me fit and healthy on the bike. RIP Howard Gallup!
Carol Specht Polakowski
January 5, 2021 at 9:32 am
Uncle Howard was my mom’s only sibling. Most of my memories of Howard are his visits with Aunt Kris and their kids, Josh, Shar, and Brad to our house in Maryland, usually at Thanksgiving. They would come from where they lived in PA to Baltimore to visit Kris’ family and then make the trip a little further south to us in Bethesda – the main reason was his Mom, Edna, our grandma, lived with us.
I do remember on a few visits, since we lived very close to DC, Howard would want to take his family sightseeing in DC – the Smithsonians, etc – and it’s true that if you live near touristy places, you don’t often go see them yourself! So several times, we would go with the cousins to explore DC.
My sympathies to my cousins, Josh and Brad.
Love,
Carol
Susan Flagg
January 6, 2021 at 12:38 pm
My son, now living in Phila, worked with Howard at the Genesis Bike Shop, and when I informed him of Howard’s death, his recollections included the following: “Howard and I shared a work stand. He hated our music and would change it to classical with out asking anyone.” (I told him about Howard wooing Frances with the Pirates Of Penzance–which I loved!)
…”I think he secretly liked us kids (tattooed & pierced…and despite the music) for our anti-authoritarianism, anti-war, human rights interests, and passion for cycling. He was a ‘real Quaker’.”
Having had a father who taught in Easton schools his entire life, my siblings & I enjoyed hearing reminiscences of his former students and tennis players upon his passing. It’s lovely to hear from others who’ve been touched by our loved ones.
My condolences to Howard’s family
Victoria Schurz Randlett
January 18, 2021 at 12:57 pm
Joshua and Brad, deep condolences to you and your families for a year that took both your parents. Shar was my dearest friend in high school and I was lucky to be close to your family then. Howard’s excitement about Evergreen is what sent me there in 1975, changing my life forever. I can’t even imagine who or where I’d be had I not known and loved your family.