Jerry Paul Draayer

Jerry Paul Draayer passed into eternal life on September 13, 2026, at the age of 84, following a long and valiant battle with cancer. Jerry’s life was a remarkable journey, from humble beginnings on a Minnesota farm to an internationally recognized career in theoretical nuclear physics.

Born in Hollandale, Minnesota, on August 18, 1942, to Bert H. and Hattie Draayer, Jerry never forgot the values he learned early in life and that would define him throughout his life: hard work, curiosity, generosity, and humility.

Jerry earned his Ph.D. in physics and mathematics from Iowa State University and completed postdoctoral work at the Niels Bohr Institute in Copenhagen, the University of Michigan, and the University of Rochester. He joined the faculty of Louisiana State University in 1975 and remained closely associated with LSU for more than five decades, serving as the Roy P. Daniels Professor of Physics and Distinguished Research Master. During that time, Jerry also served as chair of the Department of Physics and Astronomy, as a director for the Louisiana Board of Regents, and for more than two decades as president and chief executive officer of the Southeastern Universities Research Association (SURA).

Jerry devoted his career to understanding the structure and behavior of atomic nuclei. Over the course of his career, Jerry published over 550 scientific articles and delivered over 200 invited lectures worldwide. His scientific contributions earned him election as a Fellow of the American Physical Society and of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Jerry traveled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and Central and South America pursuing his research while developing lasting relationships with colleagues.

For all his professional accomplishments, Jerry remained deeply committed to family. He was married for 45 years to Lois Van Wyk Draayer, the mother of their three daughters, Leah, Sarah, and Martha. Jerry and Lois were actively involved at University Baptist Church, where Jerry remained a member until his passing. Lois’s unexpected death in 2009 was a profound loss to Jerry and to their daughters and grandchildren.

After Lois’s death, Jerry married Hortensia Teresita Valdes, embracing her family as his own. He became a beloved stepfather, step-grandfather, and member of her extended family. These relationships brought him great joy and comfort in his later years.

Jerry is survived by his beloved wife, Hortensia Teresita Valdes; her son John Delgado and his wife, Emily; their daughter Lucy Delgado; and her daughter Christina Valdes and her husband, Norman Eger.

Jerry is also survived by his daughters and their families:

Leah Draayer; her son Jamey McDowell and his wife, Emily, and their son Beckett; her daughter Claire Mahoney and her husband, William, and their two children;

Sarah Draayer Milligan and her husband, Brent; their son Ben Milligan and his wife, Maddie; their daughter Anna Kate Modell and her husband, Joe; and their daughter Meghan Milligan.

Martha Draayer Duncan and her husband, Kyle, and their children Joseph, Thomas, Michael, Rosemary, and Andrew.

Jerry leaves behind his two sisters, Ruth Albright Kennedy and Dorothy Kleinbeck and was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Don Draayer.

Finally, Jerry counted as family his 25 doctoral students of whom he was exceedingly proud.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered.