Ingrid Lyda Roper

Born on September 9, 1970, Ingrid fell in love with stories and storytelling from a young age. In a favorite story of her uncle, the late author Michael Crichton, when she was four years old, Ingrid’s mother, attorney Kimberly Crichton, went to a parent-teacher conference and was surprised to learn that Ingrid had already learned to read. Ingrid didn’t let on about her newfound skill so that Kimberly would continue to read aloud to her, a pastime they both savored. As a child, Ingrid wrote and illustrated her own books, an avocation she would continue throughout her life. Two of her published books, Dream Time and Storyteller, are journals that invite young people to record the musings of their own imaginations.

Ingrid attended a Montessori school before joining Westlake School for Girls (now Harvard-Westlake School) as a middle schooler. She graduated from Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts in 1988 and with honors from Northwestern University, where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, in 1992 with a degree in history. Ingrid remained dear friends with many former classmates throughout her life and continued to gather close friends and allies everywhere she went. After a yearlong stint with Anderson Consulting and an internship with the McNeil/Lehrer NewsHour, Ingrid joined Pleasant Company as a Project Manager for American Girl. There, she began writing in earnest for young people. She was the author of several books including Moneymakers: Good Cents for Girls, How to Master Money, and Yo-Yos: Tricks to Amaze Your Friends as well as a card deck for parents, City Walks with Kids: Washington D.C.: 50 Adventures on Foot. As an interviewer and book reviewer for Publishers Weekly, Ingrid relished getting to meet and celebrate other women writers including Ruta Sepetys, Lois Lowry and one of her own childhood heroes, Judy Blume. Ingrid’s last piece for PW published earlier this year was a celebration of the Building Stories exhibition at the National Building Museum. An avid memorist, Ingrid was invited to participate in The Moth DC GrandSLAM Championship at Lincoln Center on November 28, 2022 on the theme MEA CULPA.

Ingrid married Christopher Catron on October 10, 1998, and while they would later separate, they joyfully co-parented their sons, James and Andrew. Ingrid thrived as a “boy mom” following James and Andrew through their many academic and athletic accomplishments, cheering them on from the bleachers through every kind of weather. Wherever the boys led, Ingrid would follow, becoming an integral part of the community. She served on the Board of the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop for five years and was an active volunteer at the Maret School while James and Andrew were students there. James recently graduated with a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics from Harvey Mudd College where he had played Varsity Football. Andrew has played both Varsity Football and Baseball at Kenyon College; he is set to begin his junior year studying abroad in Prague.

Ingrid was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2008 and when it returned in 2013, she actively engaged in her treatment plan, investigating all available options, and enrolling in clinical trials. Her commitment to advancing treatment options for those living with metastatic breast cancer inspired many - and her fortitude brought several medications to market that would not have been available otherwise. Through it all, Ingrid remained forward-thinking and committed to spending as much time as possible with her sons, whom she loved so dearly, her family and friends. In another Moth story, Ingrid reflected, “I still feel so lucky. Breast cancer may have made me old before my time, but it gave me a different perspective - that aging really is a privilege.” In honor of Ingrid’s commitment, her friends and family are working to establish a research fund in her name at Georgetown University’s Lombardi Cancer Center. Donations can be made online at https://give.georgetown.edu/IngridRoper.

Ingrid is survived by her sons, James and Andrew Catron, her mother, Kimberly Crichton, and several aunts, uncles, and cousins. She was predeceased by her father, John W. Roper, Jr.

A Memorial Service will take place on Saturday January 4, 2025 at All Souls Unitarian Church, 1500 Harvard Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 at 3:00 PM. Please RSVP to: [email protected]