Obituary of Allan Wesley Drake

Allan Wesley Drake, 79, of Ewing, died Friday, September 13, 2013. Born on August 30, 1934, in Trenton, he had been a lifelong Ewing resident. He was the son of the late Ingram Henry Drake and Katharine Goodwin Drake. Allan graduated from Trenton Central High School in 1952. He then graduated from Rider College in 1956 with a degree in journalism. He joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Korea and Japan where he was a reporter for The Army newspaper, Pacific Stars and Stripes. After his years of army service, Drake went to work at the Trentonian newspaper where he covered Trenton City Hall and the Board of Education, while also handling features, a weekly column, editing and sports assignments. He subsequently moved on to the Trenton Times where he covered City Hall and the State House, as well as investigative assignments. Before joining state government, Drake worked for four years as Director of Public Information for Rider College where he was responsible for handling public relations activities in both the academic and sports areas. He was Press Secretary to N.J. Labor and Industry Commissioner, Joseph A. Hoffman before becoming Executive Assistant to N.J. Public Advocate, Stanley C. Van Ness upon its inception in 1974, where he established the public information program within the department, while handling media liaison activities, news releases, reports, speeches, and a wide range of other assignments, including advisory and administrative duties. In 1997, he retired as Executive Director of Public Information for the Public Advocate/ Office of the Public Defender. Drake had a lifelong passion for sports, where he was coach and mentor to many young athletes. He also enjoyed golfing, music, travel and meteorology, as an avid tracker of hurricanes and storm coordinates. He is survived by his wife Adele; 2 daughters and sons-in-law Cynthia and Edward Dunn, Karen Drake- Silvestri and Mario Silvestri; 4 granddaughters Alexandra, Juliana, Helena and Ella; several nieces and nephews. Relatives and friends can call on Monday, September 16 from 6-9PM at Poulson & Van Hise Funeral Directors 650 Lawrence Road, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648. A funeral service will be held on Tuesday at 11AM at Covenant Presbyterian Church 471 Parkway Avenue, Ewing, NJ 08638. Calling hours will be held from 10AM until the time of the service at the church. Interment will be private In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in Allan’s memory to the American Cancer Society 1851 Old Cuthbert Rd, Cherry Hill, NJ.