Gertrude R. Harrington "Trudy" Becker

1961 - 2022

Gertrude "Trudy" R. Harrington Becker

August 26, 2022

Gertrude "Trudy" R. Harrington Becker, 61, of Blacksburg, Va., passed away peacefully on Friday, August 26, 2022 of complications from lung cancer. She was preceded in death by her parents, John T. Harrington, M.D., and Gertrude Rose Harrington. She leaves behind her husband, Andrew Becker, her children and their spouses, Matt and Sarah Becker of Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Tim and Elizabeth Becker of Fort Worth, Texas, and Trudy Becker of Minneapolis, Minn., and three, soon to be four, granddaughters. In addition, she leaves her brothers and sisters and their families, Kathleen and Andrew Clark of Houston, Texas, Daniel Harrington of West Roxbury, Mass., Ann and Mike Murphy of Westwood, Mass., John and Bethany Harrington of Little Compton, R.I., Mark and Deanna Harrington of Houston, Texas, and Tim and Kelly Harrington of West Roxbury, Mass.

Born in Fall River, Mass. in 1961 and raised in Boston, Trudy was the oldest of seven children and attended Boston Latin School. She graduated from the College of the Holy Cross in 1983 before moving to Chapel Hill, N.C., where she earned an M.A. in Classics from UNC Chapel Hill and met Andrew Becker. The two married in the summer of 1987 and moved to Blacksburg, Va., where Trudy earned another M.A., this one in History, from Virginia Tech, and the pair began their family. Trudy and Andy both joined VT's Classics program and settled in Blacksburg permanently.

A deep commitment to education was a throughline of Trudy's life. She earned a Ph.D. in Classics from the University of Florida in 2008, and her passion for educational stewardship was displayed over and over in her relationships with her students. For them, Trudy was not just a teacher, but an advocate, champion, and true mentor. She guided them with a stern but supportive hand. Her excellent work in teaching and advising led to many major awards.

Trudy's love for her family was fierce and relentless. As the oldest of seven, she developed a skill for taking care of others from her earliest years and she was intensely protective of anyone she took under her wing. Trudy's tenacious love drove her marriage of 35 years with Andyâ€"she'd say that being with Andy allowed her to be who she wanted to be. And no issue faced by Trudy's three kids was too big for her to take on. Her love enabled all three children to flourish.

Trudy's home base was Blacksburg, but she traveled extensively over her life. She'd joke that she wasn't interested in seeing anywhere the Romans didn't goâ€"but still loved visiting places like Myanmar or South Korea. She returned again and again to the Hummocks in Rhode Island where the Harrington family convened every summer of Trudy's life. Across all her travels, her most beloved place was always Rome.

Trudy loved reading, often having a mystery in hand, and was an avid sports fan. She rooted intensely for her own and her kids' teams. Trudy especially loved large family gatherings. It was fitting that she passed away in a room crowded with loved ones telling stories around her.

Services celebrating Trudy's life will be held at McCoy Funeral Home, 150 Country Club Drive S.W., Blacksburg, Va. (Viewing on Thursday, September 1, 2022, 5 until 7 p.m.) and St. Mary's Catholic Church, 1205 Old Mill Rd., Blacksburg, Va. (Funeral on Friday, September 2, 2022, 2:30 p.m.). Burial immediately following at Westview Cemetery, 723 E. Roanoke St., Blacksburg, Va.