Dr. James F. Drane, PhD

Dr. James F. Drane, PhD, 93 of Edinboro, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 17, 2023 at Saint Mary’s at Asbury Ridge. He was born in Ridley Park, Pennsylvania on April 6, 1930, the eldest of ten children of the late James and Anna Drane.

Jimmy was raised in Chester, Pennsylvania, graduated from St. James High School and moved on to further his education and deepen his faith as a member of the priesthood.  After completing his studies at Little Rock College and Georgian University, Jimmy was ordained a priest and gained his vestments in Little Rock, Arkansas in 1955.  He furthered his education at Middlebury College and the University of Madrid where he received his Ph.D.  Post doctorate studies followed at Georgetown and Yale Universities as Jimmy continued his love of knowledge and learning.  Jimmy spoke and read at least six different languages and was always happy to add a little Latin to any conversation.

Jimmy’s life took a different path in the late 1960’s, and by chance of a bad snowstorm, he landed in Edinboro, Pennsylvania.  Having been involved in Bioethics since the early 1960s, he went on to serve as the Russell B. Roth Professor of Philosophy and Clinical Bioethics at Edinboro University of Pennsylvania (Emeritus).  Jimmy held visiting appointments at the University of Madrid, the University of Tennessee Medical School, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, and the Menninger School of Psychiatry. He received numerous grants and fellowships. He is the author of numerous books and publications including but not limited to Caring to the End, Clinical Bioethics, Becoming a Good Doctor and Religion and Ethics. His articles have appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the Hastings Center Report, as well as many others.

Jimmy always enjoyed a good intellectual conversation and was always the one who family and friends turned to for advice and counsel.  He will be greatly missed by family and friends alike.

Jimmy was preceded in death by his brothers, Jackie Drane and Charlie Drane, and his sister, Miriam Powell.

Survivors include his siblings, Ann Thornton, Joseph Drane, Thomas Drane (Earlene), Joan Vari (Tony), Kay Daniels, and Sally Dellaquila. He is also survived by many nieces and nephews who all adored their Uncle Jimmy.

Jimmy cherished the lifelong friendships he made in Edinboro and considered many of them like family.  A special thanks to his niece Lisa Sweeny (Rich) who handled many of his affairs in the last year.  The family would also like to thank the staff at Saint Mary’s at Asbury Ridge for taking such great care of Dr. Drane during the last seven months.

Friends and family may call at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church, 128 Sunset Dr., Edinboro, PA on Monday, April 24, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. until a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. For those who cannot attend, Mass will be live streamed at www.youtube.com/@OLOLEdinboro/streams.

The Glunt Funeral Home and Crematory, Inc., Edinboro, has been entrusted with funeral arrangements.

Burial will be in Edinboro Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers the family asks that donations be made to the Dr. James F. Drane Religious Speaker Fund or the Dr. James F. Drane Library Endowment for Bioethics.  Donations may be made by mail to Edinboro University Foundation, 210 Meadville Street, Edinboro, PA 16444 or online at https://your.edinboro.edu/online-donation. 

To send condolences please visit www.gluntfuneralhome.com.