Bernard A Gropper

Dr. Bernard A. Gropper, Ph.D. of Daytona Beach, FL and Silver Spring, MD, died peacefully at age 91 on May 29, 2022. In many ways, his life and career exemplify the American dream: starting with very little and building a good life for himself and his family. Born in New York, he lived for several years in the Hebrew Orphan Asylum in New York City. He joined the Air Force, where he served as an air traffic controller in the Korean War. After returning from military service, he met and married his wife of more than 55 years, Roberta, graduated from the University of Maryland, and then went on to earn his Ph.D. in psychology from Johns Hopkins University. He worked on the manned space program during the Apollo era, and then moved to the US Department of Justice, finishing his career as a research psychologist in the National Institutes of Justice, studying the many links between drugs and crime. His research was published in multiple academic journals and books, and he taught classes as an adjunct professor for the University of Southern California and the University of Central Florida.

Bud was an avid fan of the opera, classical music and antique phonographs, and his collections of each showed the same scholarly approach as his career; parts of his collections have been donated to Daytona State College’s music program, as well as other colleges and universities. Bud loved his family and friends; he was pre-deceased by his brother Fred, his wife Roberta, and their daughter Elisa Linowes. He is survived by a son, Daniel, and his wife Sareen; grandchildren Michelle and Michael; son-in-law Richard Linowes; and grandchildren Selia, Jeremy, Dahlia and Nathaniel. Widowed at 85, Bud found a second love with Natalie Lipson, who also survives him.

A celebration of life service will take place Monday, June 27, at 10:00 am at Volusia Memorial Funeral Home, 548 N Nova Rd, Ormond Beach, FL 32174.

Another memorial service will be held in the Maryland / Washington, D.C. area at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to Halifax Health Hospice Foundation, Daytona State College’s music department or a charitable organization of your choice. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at the Volusia Memorial Funeral Home webs

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.volusiamemorialfunerals.com for the Gropper family.