Jerome Russell Lewis
June 7, 1939 - December 13, 2025

Jerome Russell Lewis, of Newark, DE, passed away on Saturday, December 13, 2025.

Jerome was born on June 7, 1939 in Minneapolis. He was raised in Roseville, Minnesota by his parents, Murray and Russell Lewis. Jerome graduated from the University of Minnesota and later earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA), and a PhD in Public Administration from New York University. After working for the U.S. Department of Commerce, he joined the University of Delaware faculty in 1969, in what is now the Biden School of Public Policy and Administration.

Jerome led a life devoted to public service. He served as the founding director of the Master of Public Administration Program and helped generations of students to prepare for careers in government. He was particularly proud of the Legislative Fellows Program, which he founded in 1982, and which gave students the opportunity to help staff the Delaware General Assembly. He also initiated the Delaware Association for Public Administration, the local chapter of the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).

In 1973, Jerome created the Institute for Public Administration (IPA), which became the largest and most comprehensive center in the Biden School and the university's primary unit to support Delaware state and local government. He served as director of IPA until his death, overseeing hundreds of public service projects, sharing his high regard for the importance and excitement of public service with his students and staff, and improving the quality of public services in communities across Delaware.

During his career, Jerome's contributions were commended by the University of Delaware (Ratledge Award), the Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration (Elmer Staats Award), and Common Cause (Good Government Award). In 2023, Governor John Carney presented Jerome with the Order of the First State, an honor bestowed by the Office of the Governor to signify Jerome's "outstanding efforts, knowledge, integrity, prudence, and ability" in serving his community and his state.

Jerome was a treasured husband, father, and grandfather. He was predeceased by his brother, Raymond. He is survived by his wife, Linda; his sons Russell Lewis (Cecilia Cheng) and Raymond Lewis (Racine Lewis); his daughter, Elizabeth Zubaca (Nermin Zubaca); his sisters, Ellen James Martin (Tony Lehman) and Eugenie Lewis (Darryl Leong); sister-in-law, Judith Lewis; and his five grandchildren, Alexandra, Anderson, Nora, Benjamin and Sloane.

A visitation for family and friends will be held from 1 pm until 3 pm on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at the First Unitarian Church of Wilmington, 730 Halstead Road, Wilmington, DE, where a memorial service will begin at 3 pm. Inurnment will be held privately.