Jeffrey Noel Draine

Jeffrey Noel Draine, 62, of Wallingford PA, died on September 7, 2025, from complications of young-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Born on December 14, 1962, in Lively, Virginia, Jeff was a “preacher’s kid,” moving among Methodist parsonages throughout Virginia. He attended the University of South Carolina before transferring to Virginia Commonwealth University, where he graduated with a B.S. in rehabilitation and urban affairs in 1986. He went on to receive an MSW in social planning from Temple University in 1990 and a Ph.D. in social welfare from the University of Pennsylvania in 1995.

After college, Jeff remained in Richmond for three years, living in community at Freedom House, a faith-based nonprofit addressing the needs of the homeless population. While he wore many hats, his primary focus was creating and supporting transitional housing as a bridge between temporary shelter and permanent residence. He then moved to Philadelphia, where he obtained his MSW. He worked as a research associate at Hahnemann University under the mentorship of Phyllis Solomon, whom he followed to UPenn to pursue doctoral studies.

In 1990, Jeff married Susan Eberle and soon welcomed their two children, Olly and Maddy. Though their marriage ended in divorce, Susan often called him “the best ex-husband ever.” In 2008, he married Debora Dunbar and gained what he described as his three “bonus children,” Benjamin, Isaac, and Leah Rose. Isaac began calling him Jetpak, a nickname Jeff embraced for the rest of his life.

Jeff taught graduate students and led a research program in the School of Social Policy and Practice at the University of Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2011, achieving the status of full professor. Recruited by Temple University to be Chair of the School of Social Work in the College of Public Health, he served there until 2018.

A housing advocate before becoming an academic, Jeff never lost touch with his social justice roots. He was a dedicated, skilled, and highly successful researcher who understood that—when done right—research could be a form of resistance. He was involved in some of the pioneering research on peer-delivered services and was a leading researcher in understanding the experiences of people with mental illnesses in the criminal justice system. He was a vocal advocate for mental health care in prisons and a staunch prison abolitionist, challenging the systems he worked within to be more humane and equitable. Among other things, he advocated for integrating people back into community life (work, education, relationships, faith) and raised awareness about the experiences of family members of persons with mental health issues. Jeff was a researcher—the best kind—but he never valued data over people. Never having the least bit of interest in promoting himself, Jeff cared only about fighting the systems and political forces that ensnare people into lives spent circling shelters, hospitals, jails, prisons, and HIV care settings. The quintessential social worker, Jeff knew that mental illness was real, but cared a lot more about addressing the poverty, racism, and other forms of oppression that make mental health problems so much more intractable and difficult to live with.

Jeff was a beloved teacher who guided countless students and colleagues with his wisdom and unwavering belief in the potential for positive change. He mentored numerous doctoral students who went on to establish successful careers in the field, leaving a legacy of social work researchers across the country who model their work after his manner of proceeding. As one recently quipped, “When I don’t know what to do, I ask myself, WWJDD . . . What would Jeff Draine do?”

In December of 2016, at the age of 54, Jeff was diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s. Facing his illness with characteristic fortitude and grace, he requested an ADA accommodation, came out to his colleagues and students as a person with dementia, and lectured brilliantly for two more semesters with the administrative support of a teaching assistant before concluding his academic career. Jeff was an early participant in the anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody clinical trials, continuing to accept the then-experimental drug despite side effects in the hopes of continuing to contribute to science. Each time Jeff lost another ability, he accepted his diminishment and continued to experience joy in the ways that were still accessible to him, keeping his quick smile and witty retorts nearly to the end.

Throughout his life, Jeff found solace in simple pleasures. He was an avid gardener with a gift for growing beautiful things and a talented cook who loved bringing people together around a meal. He enjoyed a variety of intellectual pursuits about which he could hold forth at length—often to the dismay of his relatives. He especially loved shouting out the answers during Jeopardy, going for long ocean swims at Cape May Point, and anything involving family. Jeff’s faith was the cornerstone of his life; he was a devout Christian and a valued member of the Wallingford Presbyterian Church.

Deb and the children offer heartfelt gratitude to the many caretakers, medical professionals, neighbors, church family, colleagues, and friends who supported them along this journey. They are forever indebted to Margaret Gernert for her steadfast companionship and care over the last five years. Margaret found countless ways to engage Jeff in his enduring interests and passions-–from long walks and birdwatching to ’40s jazz and kitchen dance parties—adding life to his years and years to his life.

Jeff is survived by his loving wife, devoted caregiver, and best friend Debora Dunbar, his sister Betsy Draine, and his five children: Olly Baldwin (Jacob), Ben Dunbar (Lela), Maddy Draine Eberle (Naomi), Isaac Dunbar (Romina), and Leah Dunbar (Jafar). He also was the best “Jetpop” ever to four cherished grandchildren: Suzannah (Sookie) Baldwin, Jett Baldwin, Gabriel Dunbar, and Andre Dunbar. He was predeceased by his parents, Wesley Davis Draine and Noel Sedivy Draine, as well as his first wife, Susan Jane Eberle.

A memorial service will be held to celebrate Jeff’s life at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 18 at Wallingford Presbyterian Church (110 E. Brookhaven Road, 19086), with a reception following the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Penn Memory Center. https://tinyurl.com/PennMemoryCenter.