Jonathon David Drake
New Durham, NH

Jonathon D. Drake, 36, died suddenly in a car accident on Wednesday, May 23 on his way to pick up his two sons from school in New Durham where he has lived for the past 10 years. Jonathon was a man of immeasurable integrity, bottomless kindness, and genuine love. His lifework as a social worker at the University of New Hampshire's (UNH) Institute on Disability was to help youth at-risk – especially those with emotional and behavioral disabilities – and their families achieve their goals and dreams as a RENEW trainer, Wraparound coach, and direct support professional (see https://iod.unh.edu/person/drake/jonathon , https://nwi.pdx.edu , and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YvHXZgKqlLs ). His influence as a champion for youth and schools and his talent for facilitating trainings for school and mental health agency staff was recognized across the state, the country, and even internationally.   Appropriately, Jonathon was honored as the first recipient of the New Hampshire Youth M.O.V.E. Rockstar Award in 2016. He was on track to complete his certification as a high school principal alongside his wife in the fall, and it was his dream to lead a New Hampshire high school one day.

A true New Hampshire man, Jonathon was born in Laconia and raised in the log cabin his father built in Alexandria. He later moved to Francestown and went to high school at Contoocook Valley Regional High School in Peterborough where he was an active member of theatre and chorus. He attended college at UNH-Durham where he majored in psychology and went on to earn his Masters in Social Work. During the fall of his junior year at UNH, Jonathon met his soulmate, Stefanie King. As husband and wife, their unconditional love and respect for one another guided their parenting, their friendships, and their lifelong mission to make the world a better place. Jonathon's love for Stefanie and their 2 children, Timothy Atticus (age 8) and Lincoln Gaius (age 6), was palpable to all who knew him.

A survivor of childhood cancer (osteosarcoma), Jonathon lived every day as if it could be his last and shared his love at every opportunity with others. He forged innumerable relationships through his passions for motor sports and cars, Dungeons & Dragons, sword history, fencing, hiking, birds, camping, Christmas, and a perfectly cooked steak. As a gatherer, Jonathon loved an ocean of family, and so many others considered him a part of their own. Jonathon was a man of unparalleled character and heart who did make this world a better place with his booming laugh, his warm smile, and his uncompromising, unconditional love.

Jonathon is survived by his beloved wife, Stefanie; his two children, Timothy and Lincoln; his parents, David and Karen Drake of FL; his dear sister, Kristen, and brother-in-law Dan Haggerty of Pembroke; his brother, Andrew Dematos, and sister-in-law, Carline, of Goffstown; his nieces, Emma and Seneca; his nephews, Alexander and Bennet; his mother- and father-in-law, Wanda and Robert King of MA; and his sisters-in-law, Angela, Teresa, and Caroline King, all of MA.

Jonathon is predeceased by his mother Jean Drake (Carlson); his brother-in-law David King; and his grandparents, Harold and Olive Drake and Raymond and Laura Carlson.

A funeral mass for Jonathon will be held at St. Katherine Drexel Church in Alton at 1pm on Saturday, June 2. A celebration of Jonathon's life will be held later that day at 2:30pm at the New Durham Elementary School. All are welcome to attend either or both of these memorials. In lieu of flowers, a memorial scholarship fund is being established to honor Jonathon's lifework; information about how to donate to this fund will be available at his services.  Cremation care by Peaslee Funeral Home.