Former Hudson Mayor John Krum was a gentleman and dedicated public servant who helped in the development of First & Main and the Hudson Veterans Memorial Garden in Markille Cemetery, city employees said.
Mr. Krum died Saturday at the age of 90 after several bouts of pneumonia and subsequent complications, according to an obituary released by Brown-Forward Funeral Service of Shaker Heights.
Mr. Krum’s civic resume included various school committees and levy issues, stints with the Municipal Planning Commission and Hudson Public Library Board, and three terms on City Council.
He was elected mayor in 1999 but stepped down a few months short of completing his term in 2003 to care for his ailing wife. One month after resigning, ground was broken on the First & Main shopping district that Mr. Krum had advocated.
“It’s time I devote full-time attention to my wife’s health,” Krum, then 81, said in an interview at the time. “I would do a disservice to the city if I were to try to continue on as mayor.”
His wife, Marcey Krum, responded: “I feel flattered and somewhat sad. He was just the perfect man for the job.”
Hudson Mayor William Currin noted that Marcey Krum died this past Nov. 10.
“They were very much in love and supported one another, and here we see them passing within the same time frame. I think that’s a very touching and loving story,” Currin said.
Former City Council Clerk Mary Ann George said Mr. Krum was a political role model.
“If all the people in the world were like John Krum, there would never be any wars,” she said. “He was convinced you could talk and settle anything.”
He was also known for his uncanny memory.
Economic Development Director Chuck Wiede said he met Mr. Krum in 2002. Wiede worked for Summit County and dealt with Mr. Krum only briefly, yet when Wiede saw him in 2011, a smiling Mr. Krum extended his hand and said, “Chuck, how are you?” as if they were old friends.
“He was an absolute true gentleman,” Wiede said.
Mr. Krum was born in Cleveland and graduated from Shaker Heights High School in 1940. He graduated from Amherst College in 1944 and served three years in the U.S. Army.
He worked in sales and sales administration for 39 years with Pickands Mather & Co. and was an active member of Christ Church Episcopal in Hudson since 1961.
Mr. Krum was preceded in death by his oldest daughter, Dr. Deborah Douglas. He is survived by daughter Katherine of Paris, France; son John Jr. of Zurich, Switzerland; and several grandchildren.
Two memorial services for John and Marcey Krum will be held in Hudson this month: at Christ Church Episcopal, 21 Aurora St., 11 a.m. Jan. 19; and at Laurel Lake Retirement Community, 200 Laurel Lake Drive, 11 a.m. Jan. 20.
The family prefers that contributions be made to the church or the retirement facility.
Paula Schleis can be reached at 330-996-3741 or pschleis@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter at http://twitter.com/paulaschleis.