Douglas A. Grier ’64

After a long illness, Doug passed away in Tyrone, Pa., Feb. 15, 2023. He attended The Hill School, where he was chairman of the school newspaper and a member of the Cum Laude Society.

Doug followed his father Thomas 1926 and brother Bruce ’58 to Princeton, where he majored in history and was a member of Tower. He subsequently received master’s and doctoral degrees in history from the University of Michigan.

After his father’s death in 1967, Doug succeeded him as head of the Grier School for Girls, a private school in Tyrone operated under the direction of the Grier family since 1856. Doug was a trailblazer in the field of international admissions and transformed the school to create a diverse student body drawn from more than 30 countries. With the indispensable help of his wife, Harriet, he led growth of the school’s campus to include up-to-date facilities for visual arts, dance, and the performing arts. At 53 years, Doug set a national record for longevity as head of a private girls or boys boarding school in the United States. He retired in 2020 as director and head of school.

Doug is survived by his wife of 54 years, Harriet; sons Geoffrey and Andrew; three grandchildren; sister Finlay; and brother Gordon. He will be sorely missed by his family and close friends.