Dr David Adrian Draper

Professor Of Pediatrics,

 ‘A Man Of Many Hugs’

A professor of pediatrics at the Medical College of Virginia for 47 years and the former director of MCVs Cystic Fibrosis Center before he retired in 2006, Dr David Adrian Draper of Chesterfield County, Va., died of complications of Alzheimer’s disease on Friday, January 14, in a Richmond, Va., area hospital. He was 79.

He was a brother of Dr Thomas Draper of Newtown.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease that causes the body to produce thick mucus that impedes breathing and digestion. It is one of the most common chronic lung diseases among children and young adults and sometimes results in early death.

Dr Draper sometimes met his patients when they were newborns and knew them their whole short lives.

In living his own life, Dr Draper let the children he treated dictate his style. He was a man of many hugs.

Dr Draper was often honored for his research and practices. His most prized recognition, according to his wife, was the 1995 MCV Clinician of the Year Award voted by his peers.

In addition to his brother, Dr Draper is survived by his wife, Betty C. Draper of Chesterfield County; three daughters, Cathy Draper Jennings of Amelia, Va., Tonya Draper Michelle of Chesterfield, Va., and Natasha Draper Slagle of Blackstone, Va.; a son, Randy Draper of Richmond, Va.; four additional brothers, Raymond Draper of Middletown, Del., Robert Draper of St James, N.Y., Michael Draper of Guilford, Conn., and Dennis Draper of New York State; three sisters, Patricia Draper Randolph of Danbury, Barbara Draper Buxton of Leesburg, Va., and Jackie Draper Prout of California; and seven grandchildren.

A funeral Mass for Dr Draper was held Monday, January 17, at Epiphany Catholic Church, in Richmond. Entombment followed at Dale Memorial Park, Chesterfield, Va.

The Newtown Bee        January 21, 2011