Neil Dorans Obituary

Neil J. Dorans, 73, passed away on September 22nd 2025 at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, surrounded by his loved ones. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle and a respected friend, colleague, and mentor.
Neil was born on August 3rd, 1952 in Jersey City, NJ to Cornelius J. Dorans and Ethel (Bowers) Dorans-Jaworski. He spent much of his childhood in North Arlington and Bayonne, NJ, where he began his lifelong passions for reading and baseball. Neil had a strong bond with his two younger siblings, as they supported each other following the early death of their father.
Neil graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, NJ, where his commitment to learning would lead him to convince the administration to establish a new degree path in Psychology. Neil then moved with his first wife Barbara Sandstrom to Illinois, where he earned his PhD in Quantitative Psychology from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champagne. Neil worked as a leading measurement scientist at the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for over forty years and made several contributions to standardized testing, including playing a major role in recentering the SAT test scale in the 1990s. Ultimately, he rose to the position of Distinguished Presidential Appointee in the Center for Statistical and Psychometric Theory and Practice, serving as thought leader for numerous key research and operational projects. Neil was recognized repeatedly by the field, receiving the NCME Career Contributions Award in 2010, the ATP Career Achievement Award in 2017, and the AERA Robert L. Linn Distinguished Address Award in 2021 – honors that reflect both the technical depth of his scholarship and its broad influence on practice.
Neil's work was deeply rooted in his belief in fairness in testing. Inspired by those who had guided him on his own path, Neil felt that his most important role was as a mentor to colleagues, friends, and family members, all of whom remember his willingness to offer guidance and insight.
The birth of his daughter Kirsten began a momentous new chapter in Neil's life. Throughout the rest of his life, Neil and Kirsten created many wonderful memories together, including walks through Lambertville, visiting bookstores, watching classic movies on AMC, and eating ice cream. With Neil's love of baseball and numbers, it is not surprising that he supported Kirsten in developing her softball skills and cheered her on in sports, as well as encouraging her academic and career pursuits. It was obvious to anyone who knew Neil how proud he was of Kirsten. When Kirsten became a mother to her two sons, Neil was elated and assumed the role of loving grandfather with the same commitment he brought to everything else he undertook.
Neil met his devoted wife Haejin when they were both working at ETS. His wife and companion for 16 years, she and Neil loved and supported one another and shared many happy times. They would travel the world together, visiting new countries, pursuing their mutual love of learning, and sharing new experiences.
Neil was a voracious reader, with his interests covering wide-ranging subject areas, especially history, science and philosophy, and he particularly loved giving books as presents. Neil was also a gifted writer and storyteller. He was just as likely to produce a paper illuminating complex statistical matters as he was to journal the triumphs and tribulations of the previous year in his annual Christmas letter. Neil also enjoyed simpler pleasures, including spending time with friends and family, taking visitors to sample Lambertville's various restaurants and ice cream parlors, and his membership in a fantasy baseball league that stretched back almost to the beginnings of fantasy baseball itself. He was a dedicated walker and knew all the best places for long walks in Lambertville, nearby towns, and surrounding parks.
Neil is survived by his wife Haejin Kim; his daughter Kirsten Dorans and husband Christopher Hayes; grandchildren George and Julian Hayes; his sister Kathleen Syp and husband Mark; his brother Dennis Dorans and wife Donna; and his nephews and nieces Mark Syp, Tim Syp, Sara Dorans and husband Daniel Nesbitt (daughter Alexandria Nesbitt), and Kim Dorans; his first wife Barbara Sandstrom; and many other loving family and friends. Neil was predeceased by his brother Alan Dorans.
Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 1 pm at the First Presbyterian Church at 31 N Union St, Lambertville, NJ 08530.
There will be visitation at the church on Monday from 11 am until the start of the service. Private interment will be held at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations in Neil's memory may be made to the American Association for the Advancement of Science, Partners in Health, or the Trenton Rescue Mission.