Meet a Member: Del ’84 and Barb Crandall ’84 (’14, ’16, ’21 P)

Fall 2024 NULC Newsletter

Published October 26, 2024

Back in 1983, two seemingly disparate paths intersected at Northwestern University’s Hinman Hall during a meeting of prospective Residential House Coordinators (RHCs).

American history major Barb Puckett was the energetic, problem-solving resident assistant (RA) at Allison Hall, a member of the Chi Omega sorority, and was active in the Wildcat Council service organization. A native of Toledo, Ohio, she was the daughter of a World War II veteran who insisted his youngest child attend college.

Darse “Del” Crandall, meanwhile, was a pragmatic economics major and a Bobb Hall RA. The son of two proud Northwestern alumni [Darse ’59 and Ruth Ann Crandall ’61 (’84, ’87 P) (’14, ’16, ’21 GP)], Del lived for three years in Willard Residential College and participated in Navy ROTC, his strong-willed attempt to put an independent stamp on a seemingly predetermined college experience.

“Who’s that guy?” Barb remembers whispering to a friend when Del walked into the RHC meeting.

That simple question ignited a courtship and, three years later, a marriage. For the past 38 years, Barb and Del Crandall have trekked through life’s adventures together as partners, united in vision, purpose, and an unshakable affinity for their alma mater.

“There’s a pull to Northwestern,” Barb says. “It’s such a beautiful place.”

Del and Barb express appreciation for the diversity of student interests and backgrounds and intellectual opportunities they encountered at Northwestern, including enlightening US history courses with renowned professor Henry Binford. Their respective experiences as RAs and RHCs, meanwhile, taught them how to balance studies with job responsibilities and navigate different personalities.

“That was formative in teaching me time management and leadership skills,” Barb says, with Del at her side nodding in agreement.

Commissioned into the US Navy after his Northwestern graduation, Del spent 32 of his 40 years in the Navy as a judge advocate, including a three-year run as the 45th Judge Advocate General—the Navy’s top attorney in uniform. His work touched complex legal areas like international law and armed conflict and also included providing legal assistance to sailors and their families.

“The leadership opportunities Northwestern provides for students clearly helped me start to understand what it means to lead all different types of people and groups and organizations,” Del says, adding that his Northwestern experience also taught him how to prioritize, focus, and set goals.

Del’s military service, which concluded this fall with his retirement, spurred a globetrotting life. The couple and their three sons lived in the Washington, DC, area and Pensacola, Florida, as well as in England, Germany, Italy, and Japan. When the boys were younger, Barb was the family’s detail-oriented general manager, overseeing housing, schooling, and extracurricular activities to ensure their comfort and stability despite the frequent moves.

“She snapped the family in everywhere we went,” Del says.

More recently, Barb has balanced part-time work at a Northern Virginia law firm with volunteer activities, including monthly services at Arlington National Cemetery.

The couple’s affection for the University and what it provided them shines in their consistent leadership giving. The Crandalls have contributed to the Northwestern Annual Fund, Dance Marathon, and the Class of 1984 Scholarship Fund. Since 2023, they have served on the NULC Washington, DC, Regional Board, which creates opportunities for members to engage philanthropically with Northwestern in their area. They also have served on the Alumni Admission Council, meeting with prospective students and learning about their interest in the University. In addition, Del served for three years on the Northwestern University Family Advisory Council, a volunteer unit advising University leaders on issues of interest to parents and families.

And notably, all three of the couple’s sons attended Northwestern. William ’14 led the way, receiving a radio/television/film degree from the School of Communication with a second major in English. Andrew ’16 and Edward ’21 followed—both studying economics and geography in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences.

“There’s something special about Evanston and the University. Northwestern’s made all of us who we are, and we want to make sure it stays strong,” Del says. “I see it now with the guys as they’ve been launched into their lives. Northwestern has been a big part of that—opening doors and helping them understand that the sky’s the limit.