He had a magnetic personality all people were drawn to.

On top of that, he was an all-around cultured man who was well-versed in the arts.

Perhaps even more importantly, he promoted lifelong learning and the desire to instill that in others.

The Palmerton and West End communities lost one of their biggest advocates in Peter Kern, 83, who passed away peacefully in his Brodheadsville home Wednesday morning.

Kern was joined by his wife, Carol, and his daughter, Karyn Pinter, who were at his side, according to Kern’s son, Carl Kern.

“He really did like this town,” Carl said. “He was just really super-focused on the community of Palmerton and education, the arts, he was a big music fan.”

Carl said that in the spring, he took Kern for an upper GI, at which time it was learned he had a growth in his esophagus.

“A week ago (last Wednesday), he drove himself to Palmerton for the last time,” Carl said.

Carl said that in his final days, his father did the best to muster up as much courage as he could while in the company of his family.

“He was fighting; he wanted every minute he could have with his kids,” Carl said. “He dictated the last edition of the Scribe to my sister, including quotes from him including all the significant people he’s worked with.”

Carl said that his father was extremely giving to not only his family, but the community as well.

“He and Carol were both extremely accomplished in science, lifelong learning, and the desire to instill that in others; they were very quietly generous, supported the arts,” Carl said. “We were so well planned for and taken care of as kids; we have been so overwhelmingly blessed.”

Colleagues reflect

In July 2021, Kern announced that he would be retiring after three decades of promoting the borough’s downtown business community.

Marj Federanich, who along with her husband, Joe, succeeded Kern and serve as co-chairs of the Chamber, said she was grateful to have known Kern.

“For a person that didn’t live in Carbon County, he certainly was a relevant part of it,” Marj said. “He was a wealth of knowledge with the Zinc Company, (former) administrator of the Palmerton Hospital, his involvement with the Chamber and the Heritage Center and Historical Society, he was just an overall very intelligent man with a lot of interesting information.

Marj touted the articles Kern penned for the Palmerton Area Historical Society’s Scribe, a quarterly news booklet.

“He was a face that was well known in town, well liked in town,” she said. “I’m very happy to have known him, worked with him, learned for him.”

Rory Koons, president of the Aquashicola Fire Department, said he first came to know and work with Kern at The New Jersey Zinc Co. and later in his career at the Palmerton Hospital, “where he relied on my experience and assistance with safety and fire protection.”

“Anyone who worked with or came in contact with Peter will tell you they never met a more honest or polite gentleman,” Koons said. “He cared about people, and was extremely helpful to those who were less fortunate or needed assistance. His love for Palmerton was and is second to none.”

Koons referenced the nomination letter for Kern’s selection as a candidate for the Mauch Chunk Trust Company’s Community Hero program in 2012.

“One of the most outstanding features that I learned from my dear and departed friend Bill Smelas, was being apprised by Mr. Smelas that Peter was very generous and quite philanthropic,” he said. “When you would hear that some donated or supported a cause or provided funding anonymously, you could best bet it was Peter Kern.

“He never sought recognition or fame and was one of the humblest men to serve our community. He strived to put Palmerton on the map with his dedication, donations, love and devotion to the Palmerton community.

“Through his efforts he truly epitomized Palmerton’s motto in making Palmerton, ‘A nice place to live.’ People like Peter are rare and few and will truly be missed by all.”

Susan Steigerwalt, who worked with Peter Kern at the Palmerton Area Historical Society, added, “Peter L. Kern was the most kind, giving, and full of life man/boss and friend I had the pleasure of working for and knowing.

Steigerwalt added, “His knowledge of the New Jersey Zinc Company and of Palmerton was an asset to the community and the Palmerton Area Historical Society.

“All this knowledge enabled him to be the outstanding author of the society’s Scribe, the quarterly news booklet, that goes out to the society members,” she said. “His talent for the written word will be missed at the Historical Society.”

Background

Kern was married to his wife, Carol, for 61 years.

He received a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York, and a master’s degree in Mathematics from the Institute of Technology of the University of Minnesota. Kern was a professional engineer licensed in the state of Pennsylvania.

Kern joined the Research Department of the New Jersey Zinc Company in 1965 and participated in major projects in the United States, Canada, Australia, Brazil, France, and Germany, eventually rising to the position of Senior Vice President.

He resigned in 1988 to become president and chief executive officer of Palmerton Hospital, a position he held until his retirement in 2000. He continued his involvement with the hospital serving in a volunteer role for five years as president of the Palmerton Hospital Foundation.

In addition to his professional career, Kern was actively involved in community activities. He was elected to two terms as a director of the Pleasant Valley School District and served two years as board president. He later served 10 years as the president of the Pleasant Valley School District Foundation. He was elected to the board of trustees of the Hospital and Health Systems Association of Pennsylvania, and served as a director of the American Lung Association of the Lehigh Valley.

In 1988, he was appointed to the founding board of the Horsehead Community Development Fund, and served six years in that role.

Kern served almost 30 years as president of the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce, and was instrumental in the founding of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce, for which he served the latter organization as director for 10 years, including four years as its chairman.

He was also a member of the Advisory Board of St. John Neumann Regional School in Palmerton, where he also served eight years as mentor to the School’s Chess Team. Since 2010, Kern served as treasurer of the Palmerton Area Historical Society

In 2009, Kern was elected to the board of directors of the Allentown Symphony Association where he served as chairman of the Governance Committee, and as a member of the Executive Committee. In 2013, he was elected board president, and was very active obtaining broad-based community financial support for the organization.

Kern is survived by his wife, Carol, sons Carl of Palmerton and Keith of Lock Haven, and daughter Karyn Pinter of Mount Bethel; three grandchildren; and brothers Patrick of Hayesville, North Carolina, and Philip of New York, New York. He was predeceased by his brother Paul of Baiting Hollow, New York.

A memorial service will be held at Zion United Lutheran Church, Brodheadsville, at a date to be announced.

Contributions may be made to Allentown Symphony Association, 23 North Sixth St., Allentown, PA 18102 or Palmerton Area Library, 402 Delaware Ave., Palmerton, PA 18071.