ISLESFORD – Herbert H. Stroup, 95, died Sunday, Aug. 14, 2011. He was born May 1, 1916, in Philadelphia, the son of Margaret Hewitt and William Valentine Stroup.
After graduation from Olney High School, Philadelphia, he attended Muskingum College in Ohio, graduating with honors in three years. After that he attended Union Theological Seminary, an international institution in New York City, graduating from the three-year program with a Bachelor of Divinity degree. For the next two years he studied at New School University, New York City, receiving a doctorate in social science. He then became a professor of sociology, dean of students and chairman of the department of student services at Brooklyn College. Throughout his life, he participated in many community activities: minister of Islesford Congregational Church, trustee of Bangor Theological Seminary, trustee of Ripon College in Wisconsin, trustee of American Association for Middle East Studies, member of the committee on publication for “Lutheran Social Welfare Quarterly,” member of the Fellow Society for Religion in Higher Education, member of the board of directors for the board for Homeland Ministries, U.C.C., member of the program board for Division of Overseas Ministries with National Council of Churches, chairman of the Division of Health and Welfare, U.C.C., consultant for the Personalization of Education Danforth Foundation, headmaster of the Sheltering Arms, and chairman of the national administration and policy committee with Christian Faith and Higher Education Projects. He was also honored in issues of “Whose Who in America.” In addition, he led a study team to survey refugees from Bangladesh who were in West Bengal, India, for Church World Services. During a full academic year, he was director for Greece for the National Council of Churches, branched in Athens, and there he engaged in social service projects on a countrywide basis. He also conducted a study on the churches and social development at the invitation of the Christian Council of Malawi, Africa. He visited nearly all countries in Europe and the Middle East in his travels, and he went to various nations in Asia on a trip around the world. He wrote various scholarly articles, book reviews and texts. Among his books were: “Bureaucracy in Higher Education,” “Founders of Living Religions,” “Church and State in Confrontation,” “Community Welfare Organizations,” “Four Religions of Asia,” “The Jehovah’s Witnesses,” “Like a Great River,” “Social Welfare Pioneers: Church and State,” “Social Work: An Introduction to the Field,” and “Toward a Philosophy of Organized Student Activities.”
He is survived by his son-in-law, John L. Kuczynski III; his grandson, J.L. Nicholas Kuczynski IV; and son, Timothy and his wife, Alice Tyler.
Burial will take place at a later date in Pennsylvania, where he will be laid to rest in the family plot alongside his wife, Grace; and daughter, Trudi Ann.