Bernard John Metz, Sr., 89 of Palmer Twp., PA died Tuesday, December 12, 2017 at home. Born June 23, 1928 in Bath, PA he was a son of the late Jesse and Elizabeth (Tracy) Metz. He was a graduate of St. Philip and James High School and attended Churchman’s Business College and Northampton Community College. He received mechanical engineering certification from ICS in Scranton and was also a certified Master Plumber. He served as a US Army Platoon leader with the 29th Infantry Regimental Combat Team during the Korean War.
Mr. Metz started Metz Mechanical in 1960 and served as its President and/or Chairman for over 50 years. Metz Mechanical received National recognition for its work in Energy management and state awards for its stop smoking and weight loss programs. It was the first “no smoking” company in PA and remains “no smoking” to this day.
In 1987 he started the Small Business Council of the Two Rivers Chamber of Commerce and served as its Chairman for the first two years and was the first recipient of the Chamber’s Small Business of the Year Award. In 1991 he received the Sales and Marketing Executives Distinguished Citizen Award. He, and his son BJ, were awarded the first annual Martin Zippel Award from the Boys and Girls Club of Easton in 1996. In 1997 the company received the Community Fabric Corporate Award from Northampton Community College.
He is a Life member of the American Society of Heating Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineering, the American Society of Power Engineers, and Suburban EMS. Mr. Metz was very active in the community, serving in various capacities including: Director of Valley Health, President Valley Health Services, Director Lafayette Bank and Fulton Financial, Past Pres. Easton Hospital, Past President Easton Area YMCA, member Education Committee PA Hospital Trustee Assoc., Director Northampton Country Club, and Advisory Board member Easton Boys and Girls Club. He also encouraged and supported his Metz employees to give back to the community.
He loved to play golf socially and belonged to various clubs including Tamarac Country Club and Coral Ridge Golf Club both in Ft. Lauderdale, Harker’s Hollow, Northampton Country Club and Sea View Country Club in Absecon, NJ. He played golf in 20 states including Hawaii and Alaska, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Okinawa, Ireland, England, Canada, Bermuda and Mexico. Bernard traveled to all but 3 states in the US, including Alaska and Hawaii 3 times, Italy and England both 6 times, Germany 5 times and Ireland 3 times. He also visited Hong Kong, Morocco, China, Japan, Spain, Mexico, Colombia, the Caribbean Islands, Hungary, Austria, Malta, Corsica, Switzerland, Monte Carlo, Sicily and France.
He is survived by his wife of 25 years Mary (Boos) Shaughnessy Metz; sons: David J. Parsons (wife Barbara), BJ Metz, Jr. (wife Kristie Hoeflein), all of Easton; step-sons: Edward Shaughnessy (wife Ellen), Easton, Michael Shaughnessy, Bethlehem; granddaughters: Jennifer (husband Peter Mickolay), Nazareth and Anne Parsons, Easton; great-grandson: Grant Parsons; many nieces and nephews in FL and GA. He was predeceased by his first wife of 35 years Marion (DeRosa) Parsons Metz and his brother: Leon Metz.
Services are private; the Ashton Funeral Home, Easton is handling arrangements. Online condolences may be offered at www.AshtonFuneralHome.com.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Miracle League of Northampton County, P.O. Box 3424, Palmer, PA 18043-3424, www.miracleleagueofnc.org.
