By The Drury Family, and Barbara Mumma, Secretary, Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center
John Drury, a cherished family man, respected physical therapist, and committed community advocate, passed away peacefully on June 12, 2025, at St. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital in Coaldale, PA.
John was born March 29, 1932, in Philadelphia, PA, a son of John and Ellen (Neumann) Drury, Sr. John’s life was a testament to his enduring dedication to his loved ones and the community of Jim Thorpe, PA, that he so dearly loved and improved through his tireless efforts.
John’s legacy is lovingly carried on by his family, including his sons David and wife Mary Ann of Jim Thorpe, Dale and wife Lynn of Jenkintown, and Mark and wife Lisa of Ephrata. He was a guiding light to his sister Elizabeth Rebl of Summerville, S.C. His role as a grandfather to ten grandchildren and a great-grandfather to six, with two more on the way, brought him immeasurable joy and pride.
John was predeceased by his beloved wife, Janet Drury, who passed away in May of 2023. Together, they shared a life full of love, laughter and shared dreams. The void left by his passing is felt deeply by all who knew him, yet his spirit will continue to inspire those he has left behind.
As we bid farewell to John Drury, we celebrate a life lived with purpose and love. His legacy of kindness, philanthropy and community service will continue to influence and shape the town of Jim Thorpe and beyond for generations to come. John’s memory will be cherished and kept alive in the hearts of his family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him.
Celebration of Life for John and Janet Drury
Service: A Celebration of Life for both John and Janet will be held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, beginning at 12:00 p.m. in the Ballroom at the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, Inc., 41 West Broadway, Jim Thorpe. Calling hours 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 12:00 p.m. Interment will be private in the Mauch Chunk Cemetery, South Avenue, Jim Thorpe.
Memorial gifts can be made to Family Promise of Carbon County, 140 W. Mill St., Nesquehoning, PA 18240. Online condolences can be made at www.stianchefh.com. The David J. Stianche Funeral Home, 123 Center Street, Jim Thorpe, PA, has been entrusted with John’s funeral arrangements. Their telephone number is 570-325-8322. To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of John Drury, please visit the funeral home’s Sympathy Store.
Also you may view condolences messages, or create a message and/or order a memorial tree(s), through Legacy.com. Tree memorials given in honor of John are listed on their website. The trees will be planted by the Arbor Day Foundation. The support team telephone number for Legacy.com is 888-823-8554 and the Legacy.com phone number to order memorial trees is 888-303-5240. Email: info@legacy.com. www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/tnonline/name/john-drury-obituary?id=58663680
Remembrances of John by Barbara
I was John’s personal secretary and secretary for the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, Inc. Over the years working together we had many conversations. I learned about his family and his life in our town. The Drury Family has been involved in the physical and cultural revival of Jim Thorpe, PA, for over the past thirty-seven years. John was ninety-three years old and had been married to his high school sweetheart Janet for sixty-eight years. After graduating from Germantown High School in Philadelphia in 1950, he received a degree in education from Temple University in 1954.
Following service in the Army, John continued his education at the Cleveland Clinic and became a licensed physical therapist. He continued working as a physical therapist for over fifty years, at first in Philadelphia and later in Luzerne and Carbon Counties.
Janet and John had three sons – David, Dale, and Mark. Each found work and became successful in their areas of expertise.
While working with John he told me many stories of his experiences and his accomplishments that are described below. Along life’s way, John became interested in real estate development, renovating Jersey shore properties in Avalon, Ocean City, and Strathmere from 1965 through 1975. In Philadelphia he owned and operated the Chestnut Hill Hotel until 1981. He later owned and operated the Delmar Morris Apartment Complex in Germantown until 1986. This was followed by a partnership with four, who purchased and renovated the historic Keswick Theater in Glenside, PA, where John served as General Contractor until 1989.
John “discovered” Jim Thorpe in 1975 and purchased one hundred acres overlooking the newly developed Mauch Chunk Lake for family and Boy Scout camping. In the late 1980’s, after selling other properties, he focused on Jim Thorpe to live and be involved in its revival. He then purchased the New American Hotel in 1988, and renamed it The Inn at Jim Thorpe.
He also acquired the abandoned St. Paul’s Methodist Church on West Broadway. With the help of the dedicated townspeople, especially Laura Thomas, a local physician’s wife, the first floor church parish hall was restored and made into a museum. Today it continues to be used as a museum with many historical exhibit areas. The other remarkable contributor to the establishment of the Mauch Chunk Museum was Joan Gilbert, a grant-writer and creator of the early museum displays. In 2001 the former church sanctuary on the second floor was restored as a ballroom. This floor has been used over the past twenty plus years for group gatherings, i.e., wedding receptions, Victorian balls, tea parties, band concerts, and local non-profit fund-raising events and/or for other special occasions. This building is now the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center, Inc.
As a member of the Kemmerer Park Board, John was instrumental in saving the Kemmerer Mansion’s carriage house from the wrecking ball, with critical help from Bob Handwerk, and Carole and Ben Walbert. Volunteers including Jim Thorpe High School students, boy scouts from Troop 555, inmates from the Carbon County Correctional Facility, and importantly, the Kemmerer Family Fund, supported much of the restoration project. The Carriage House is located at 20 Packer Hill Road.
Between 2019 and 2022 the interesting history of the wealthy Front Hill Families and their contributions to the Mauch Chunk success story in the 18th and 19th century was told in the Carriage House’s 1st floor library/museum by a history guide from the Mauch Chunk Museum. Currently the Carriage House is a private residence for a local family.
The financial resources for the many causes and projects undertaken by John came primarily from the Inn at Jim Thorpe, a successful business venture managed mainly by David Drury over the past thirty-five years. This hotel is the stable anchor in the business section of the town. When the Drurys took over the hotel, The Inn required a total rehabilitation to meet customer expectations for hotel quality. With the help of many, the challenges were met.
John was the past president of the Jim Thorpe Commerce Association, member of the Jim Thorpe Lions Club, as well as being the executive director of the Switchback Gravity Railroad Foundation. In 2002, he was named one of Mauch Chunk Trust Company’s Community Heros.
John had many talents. At our Mauch Chunk Ballroom events John hosted numerous programs and acted as emcee. His presence was magical. At special Victorian Balls or theme Tea Parties, John entertained the audience with his wonderful singing voice and his tap dancing around the beautiful ballroom floor! He will always be in our memories.
John learned from his life experiences. He said, “Leap” sometimes “before you look” – or “You may never leap.” More importantly, “Happiness centers around giving – self and possessions.” “All you give is all you get in this life.”
What the World Needs Now… Is Love, Sweet Love!
Join in helping Family Promise of Carbon County as they help the homeless families in our community! Family Promise of Carbon County is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit social care agency. They are located at 140 W. Mill Street, Nesquehoning, PA 18240. Their website is: www.familypromisecarboncounty.org and their email address is: director@familypromisecarboncounty.org with telephone number 610-379-4757 and fax number 610-514-9054.
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