Mary Patricia Harper

Mary Patricia Harper, Ph.D., of Falls Church, Virginia, a loving wife, mother and grandmother, and a pioneering computer scientist in speech and language technology, passed away in Falls Church on October 2, 2026, at the age of 70.

Mary was born in Buffalo, New York, the middle of three children of Francis and Rosemary O’Connor. In 1965, her family moved to Fairlawn, Ohio, where she attended Our Lady of the Elms and Copley High School. She graduated as salutatorian while already taking classes at the University of Akron. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from Kent State University and a master’s degree from the University of Massachusetts. It was there that she met the love of her life, Paul Harper. They married in 1978, and their daughter, Sarah, arrived “a year, a month and a day” later. Mary then earned a second master’s degree and a Ph.D. in computer science from Brown University.

Mary spent nearly two decades as a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue University. She also served as a program director at the National Science Foundation and as a senior research scientist at the University of Maryland’s Center for Advanced Study of Language and the Johns Hopkins Human Language Technology Center of Excellence. As a program manager at the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity (IARPA), she conceived and led the Babel program, a landmark research effort to teach computers to understand speech in languages that technology had long overlooked. She finished her career as Deputy Chief Scientist for the U.S. Army Research Lab. Over the course of her career, she authored more than 170 publications and mentored many students who carry her work forward today.

After retiring on December 31, 2018, Mary treasured her time with Paul and their family. She adored her grandchildren and was a fixture at their school events, piano recitals, dance performances and sporting events. She was also a devoted animal lover. Over the years, she shared her home with three Border Terriers and many cats, all of them cherished members of the family. When she was diagnosed with mucosal melanoma in 2021, Mary faced the disease with the same determination that defined her career. She also became a dedicated advocate for others facing the same diagnosis, generously sharing what she had learned in the hope of helping others navigate the disease.

Mary was deeply loved and respected by those who knew her. Her kindness, generosity, love of learning and instinct to help others were evident throughout her life, in her family, her work and the way she responded to her illness. She was a life partner and perfect match to her husband, a loving mother to her daughter, and an extraordinary example and role model to her grandchildren. She will be greatly missed.

Mary is survived by her devoted husband of 48 years, Paul Harper; her daughter, Sarah Harper Smith (Dane), of McLean, Virginia; her beloved grandchildren, Owen, Madeleine and Andrew; her sister, Kathy Scheer (Marvin); her brother, Tom O’Connor (Janice); and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents, Francis and Rosemary O’Connor.

A wake will be held Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Money & King Funeral Home, 171 Maple Ave West, Vienna, Virginia. A Funeral Mass will be celebrated Friday, October 9, at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of Good Counsel Catholic Church 8601 Wolftrap Road Vienna, Virginia with a reception to follow at her daughter’s home.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Mary’s memory to the Melanoma Research Alliance (https://www.curemelanoma.org) or Food for Others (foodforothers.org).