Peter Nelson Randrup, 1932-2025, And then there was El…. Born in Baltimore, the only son of Danish immigrants Anders and Ellen Nielsen Randrup, he grew to be 6’4” of lovable human. He cherished his nearly 67 years of marriage to his very best friend, Eleanor Brainard Randrup, to whom he became engaged three weeks after their first blind date. Together, they raised 4.23 children (if you know, you know), and went on to have 15 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. He reveled in his family. Dinners always involved fun quiz games or a group read of “Cheaper by the Dozen” or a “Happy Hollisters” mystery. Dinner often included ‘gentle’ reminders of proper etiquette: one’s elbow might be summarily ‘encouraged’ off the table or, if
one were chewing with one’s mouth open: “Why are you practicing for the choir at the table?” and giggling was right out! His most famous quote was “Quit your GD giggling!” Whether it was visiting the dump at Block Island, playing all night Monopoly games, shagging fly balls on the school baseball fields, driving ‘Droopsy’ home from the Empire Theater, filling the iconic VW van with seaweed for the organic garden, cheating and claiming victory when engaged in a bike race home to Dickens Point vs. his niece, Patti, or trying to convince Peter Jr to get a haircut or a t-shirt that said “J-E-R-K” – life with our dad was simply the very VERY best. He was a loving uncle to Patti Brainard, Betsy Brown, Jim Glassco, and Bill Glassco, and somehow survived the loss of his son, Morgan Brainard Randrup in 1995. But his joy and his strength were always his ‘best pal’ El. They lived for many years in the Hartford area, including several years at ‘the Farm’ – the Brainard family farm on the top of Avon mountain – where they had a goat, a horse, chickens, and a huge organic garden, and where he was in his happy place. But Dad was thrilled when they finally moved back to Baltimore – his hometown – in the late 70s, where they spent the next 40 years. He proudly showed the sights of ‘Charm City’ to anyone he could coerce into the car for a trip around the back streets, passing by Margaret Brent PS 53, Druid Hill Park, the shot tower, Lexington Market, and Fort McHenry. Dad graduated from Towson High School in 1949 and after spending a semester at the University of Maryland, he decided to enlist in the Air Force. A friend suggested that he apply to the USNA, and after a year at Naval Academy Prep School he was accepted. He was certain he’d be academically separated after his first semester, so he planned to study four hours each evening and that was it – no more – let the chips fall where they may. But, because he dedicated himself to focused study for those hours, his grades began to rise, and by graduation he secured several awards including earning a watch for the mid who improved the most academically over four years. He graduated in 1956, and served on the USS St Paul and USS Harry F Bauer. Fascinated by subs, he applied to sub school and got in, headed to Groton and a fateful blind date with a Connecticut College girl: the absolute light of his life – El. He was late to their first date because he went to a ‘really swell lecture on subs’. She ‘forgave him’, and a second date was secured. She has since admitted that the fact that he was a tall, gorgeous Viking with a hot sports car and a fabulous sense of humor may have tilted the balance in his favor! Peanut butter and jelly, peas and carrots, mac and cheese (don’t even get us started on cheese); they simply belonged together. And those of us who got to go along for the ride were so incredibly blessed. He served on the USS Hardhead (a diesel submarine. Because THAT makes sense when you’re 6’4”, right?), and retired from the Navy in 1961. He then worked in various defense related industries and obtained his MBA from American International College. He began teaching–first at the University of Hartford, then Roger Williams University, then in the business school at the University of Baltimore, and then at Averett College, Lebanon Valley College, and Frostburg State. He reconnected with the USNA and the class of ’56 when his daughter started dating a mid in 1984. He loved going to class tailgaters for several years, only stopping when COVID kept him from the road. He took great pleasure in seeing two of his grandsons, (Matt and Chris) follow in his footsteps to Canoe U with the classes of 2012 and 2015, and another grandson, (Ryan) serve four years in the Navy as well. In retirement, he became a faithful volunteer for the Seafarers Society of Baltimore and the Red Cross. Both roles saw him in his happy place: driving. He drove sailors on errands and drove blood supplies all over MD (often with his daughter’s enormous dog, Mudgie, along for the ride). Weekends often found Elie and him aboard his 28 ft sailboat “The Dandy” cruising about the Chesapeake Bay, harkening back to his days at USNA where he crewed for three years in the Newport to Bermuda race. He found literally any excuse to hit the road, always finding a way to arrive at his designated destination ‘by way of Scranton”, and stopping along the way for ‘a little something’. He also hiked about 800 miles of the Appalachian Trail and longed to go back and complete it. In order to travel to Europe inexpensively, he became an international courier and carried packages back and forth between Copenhagen and New York City. Immensely proud of his Viking heritage, a favorite family tradition was the celebration of Smorrebrød on Christmas eve. El, ever the good sport, made the Risengrød every year. It was her cross to bear. Sons, Anders Randrup III, Peter N. Randrup Jr, and Morgan Brainard Randrup will never know how close they came to being named Thor, Odin and Lars Erik. As you read this (and really, we’re impressed that you’ve made it this far – but he lived a long and FULL life!) he is no doubt chatting with St. Peter about the virtues of the Naval Academy and his beloved Orioles, sipping a Natty Boh, his beautiful blue eyes shining down on Elie and his family with love, while puckering up and sharing a final ‘kissy-kiss’. Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Brainard Randrup of Keene, NH (formerly of Baltimore), sons, Anders Randrup III (Lennie) of Salisbury, MD and Peter Randrup Jr. (Sara) of Glen Arm, MD, daughters, Eleanor Randrup Hein (Robert) of Norfolk, VA, and Rennie Randrup Washburn (David) of West Chesterfield, NH, grandchildren, Katie, Sarah, Andy, Tyler, Carly, Claudia, Alex, Brendan, Michelle, Ryan, Casey, Morgan, Emily, Matt and Chris. Services will be private. “You are unrepeatable. There is a magic about you that is all your own.”
– D.M. Dellinger