Jeanne Giovannoni, professor of social welfare at UCLA for many years, passed away on December 17, 2009. She had been seriously ill for some months, but was alert in her hospital bed through her final hours.

Professor Giovannoni remained close to many of her UCLA colleagues, and she would brighten during their visits and at the mention of her faculty friends.

A former psychiatric social worker, Professor Giovannoni was among the best known scholars in child welfare. Her 1979 book, “Defining Child Abuse,” was a highly cited source in the field of child maltreatment. Professor Giovannoni was active in many spheres for her entire life.  From 1969-1993, she was an unusually productive faculty member and also served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Relations. Before and after her retirement in 1993, she was involved in many causes and organizations, rendering service to UCLA and national, state and local organizations. She served as a consultant to the U.S. Veteran’s Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Juvenile Division of Los Angeles County Superior Court, and was on the Board of Directors of El Nido Family Centers. She continued her scholarship throughout her life, and as recently as 2006, published a paper on consumer perceptions of services in family resource centers.

Jeanne Giovannoni embodied the best traditions of UCLA, and will be missed.