Skip to main content

In Memory: Dr. Edward Northrop (PU DVM ’75)

The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is saddened by the passing of a member of the DVM Class of 1975, Dr. Edward J. Northrop, of Mulberry, Ind., who died February 5 at his home following a long-term illness. He was 71.

A native of Clinton County and graduate of Clinton Central High School, Dr. Northrop earned his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences at Purdue University in 1972 and his DVM degree three years later.  He worked in private practice for 45 years, serving as owner/operator of the Northrop Veterinary Clinic.

Dr. Northrop also was involved in equine management and horse breeding.  In addition, he was a mentor of future veterinarians and for many years visited St. Matthews Preschool to explain veterinary medicine to the children. He also served as a Boy Scout Leader and Master and sponsored Greater Lafayette soccer teams.  An expert at growing green beans and an avid woodworker, Dr. Northrop is remembered as an all-star husband, father, and grandfather.

Visitation will be this evening, Friday, February 12 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and tomorrow, Saturday, February 13, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort, Ind., with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Out of respect for the health and safety of all in attendance, guests will be expected to adhere to current CDC guidelines regarding appropriate social distancing and the wearing of masks.  Memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, c/o Donation Processing, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

PVM Professor Emeritus Jan Hawkins Receives Prestigious Award from ACVS

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and the ACVS Foundation have announced the recipients of several prestigious awards, and one of the awardees is Purdue Veterinary Medicine Professor Emeritus Jan Hawkins, DVM, DACVS.  The ACVS Board of Regents selected Dr. Hawkins as the recipient of the Al and Carolyn Schiller Distinguished Service Award in recognition of his exceptional contributions to ACVS through decades of dedicated volunteer leadership and service.

Retreat brings together Veterinary Technology team members 

Members of the Purdue Veterinary Technology Distance Learning (VTDL) Program team recently traveled to Purdue’s West Lafayette campus for an in-person retreat where they could work together and explore new opportunities for teaching, learning, and student success. The two day retreat focused on strengthening collaboration between the program's remote and on-campus teams, and represented a significant milestone for the program.

Annual Purdue Veterinary Conference draws veterinary professionals from across the country for learning and fun

The 2026 edition of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference attracted attendees from around the U.S. for three days of educational sessions covering an array of topics.  With the overall theme of “One Health: Modern Veterinary Medicine,” the conference September 23-26 on the Purdue University campus drew more than 450 veterinarians and veterinary technicians, plus faculty, staff and students. Sessions taught by a total of 65 speakers, including many Purdue Veterinary Medicine clinicians and veterinary technicians/technologists, enabled conference-goers to earn up to 23 continuing education credit hours.

Significant Gift from Jordan Smelski Foundation will fuel Purdue Veterinary Medicine research on deadly brain eating amoeba

A researcher in the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Comparative Pathobiology has received a generous gift of more than $100,000 from the Jordan Smelski Foundation for Amoeba Awareness and Mr. Steve Smelski to support research of the deadly amoeba Naegleria fowleri. Christopher Rice, PhD, assistant professor of parasitology and principal investigator of the Rice Research Group, leads a research team seeking to discover and repurpose drugs against primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM), a rare but typically fatal infection caused by Naegleria fowleri.

Purdue veterinary student receives Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship awarded by AKC Humane Fund

The AKC® Humane Fund, Inc.℠ has announced the 2026 recipients of the Sir John D. Spurling Scholarship, celebrating the human-canine bond, and one of the recipients is Purdue veterinary student Tiffany Chang of the Class of 2027. Chang is one of only five students chosen for the scholarships.