Bernard John Drury
On April 21, 2023 Dr. Bernard Drury passed peacefully with his family at his bedside. He had celebrated his 100th birthday in January with his 65 immediate family members. It was a huge milestone for him and a source of immense pride that he was able to outlive every ancestor on his carefully constructed family tree. At his party, he thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention, watching the interactions of his loving, joyful family, giving a heartfelt speech, tying his own Windsor knot, and blowing his trumpet.
A proud second generation Irish San Franciscan, he attended 11 elementary schools due to the Great Depression during which his family lost everything and had to relocate often. He attended St. Ignatius High School where he played football and rowed on the championship crew.
His studies at the University of San Francisco were interrupted in 1943 by his call to duty as a naval officer in World War II. In his officers training as a recognition officer, he learned to identify the silhouettes of enemy war planes and ships. While serving on a destroyer in Japan, he applied to Stanford Medical School, was accepted and, thanks to the benefits of the GI Bill, graduated in1950.
At the wedding of a mutual friend in 1947, he met Betty Dougherty and married her two years later. Four children arrived in rapid succession while he was a medical resident and living in the first integrated housing project in San Francisco.
Upon completing his Orthopedic Surgical residency in 1955, he was thrilled to accept a position at Sansum Clinic in Santa Barbara for the unbelievable salary of $1,000. per month. The bonus baby came along soon after to complete his family of 5 kids in six years.
His children have many fond and funny memories of their Dad who maintained his fascination with nature, physical fitness, and nutrition throughout his life. Their annual family vacations to Tahoe, Yosemite, Mt.Lassen, and El Capitan State Beach provided many opportunities for him to impart his wealth of knowledge and to instill his sense of wonder in each of them.
Although Dr. Drury had an exhausting schedule with his Orthopedic practice and Emergency room on-call shifts, he strongly believed in giving back to his community. For decades, he volunteered as the team physician
for both Santa Barbara High and Bishop High football and basketball teams.
His deep religious beliefs and spirituality guided him through some of his toughest times. He was married to Marcianna Hout in 1976.
One of his greatest pleasures was to attend every possible social and religious event of his 16 grandchildren. Even with his progressive physical limitations and the distance between Santa Barbara and the Bay Area, he did his very best to share experiences and memories with the next generation. His travel was often made possible through the dedicated assistance of his stepdaughter, Laura.
His family convinced him to move back to the Bay Area for the nearly 5 years preceding his death so he could receive better care while residing with his son Bernie’s family. He lived for football season, and really enjoyed watching college and pro football especially the Forty-Niners and his alma maters, Stanford, Gonzaga, and Notre Dame. His spirit, joy, and sense of belonging was rekindled by the houseful of his kids, grandkids, and energetic great-grandkids. He was so proud of each and every one of them, always inquiring about those who did not live nearby and referring to them by name.
He is survived by his son, Bernie (Athena), daughters, Kathryn Drury Anderson (David), Linda Drury Carrozzi, and Gail Drury, 16 grandchildren, and 28 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his beloved daughter, Maureen in 1983 and recently, by his dear son-in-law, Dan Carrozzi.
In May, a private funeral mass and reception were held in the Bay Area and a private gravesite service was held in Santa Barbara where he was laid to rest.