13/01/2026
The Geological Society of Jamaica extends its deepest condolences on the passing of Professor Grenville Draper (24th Sep 1950 - 6th Jan 2026), a long-standing member of the Society who served with distinction as a Council Member and as Associate Editor of the Journal of the Geological Society of Jamaica (now the Caribbean Journal of Earth Science). His career was closely intertwined with the geology of Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Prof. Draper was educated at the University of Cambridge and Imperial College London, as well the University of the West Indies, Mona where he completed his Phd. For his PhD, he produced a seminal dissertation on the tectonics of eastern Jamaica that helped shape modern understanding of the island’s metamorphic and structural evolution. He served the Department of Geology, UWI, Mona as Museum Curator and Lecturer, and later transitioned to Florida International University where he was a Professor of Geology until his retirement. Professor Draper remained deeply committed to Jamaican geology through sustained research, fieldwork, publication, and mentorship. His authoritative studies of the Blue Mountains, Jamaican blueschists, karst landscapes, and regional tectonics, together with his leadership as Chair of Caribbean Geological (now Geoscience) Conference Standing Committee, leave an enduring scientific legacy and a profound personal impact on colleagues, students, and friends.
