Former professional musician follows Golden Rule through life

You've probably heard of the Golden Rule: Do unto others as you'd have them do unto you.

Jon Maury of Salisbury Twp., Lehigh Co. is certainly living by that rule.

"I knew right away this was not a stray dog. It belonged to someone," Maury said.

The someone was me. After five days on the run, my dog Henry found himself in Maury's yard.

"I noticed he had his leg all bandaged up," Maury said.

Thankfully, the dog lover got in contact with me.

After a quick chat, I recognized Maury has led an incredible life.

He said he played backup drums in the Simon and Garfunkel hit song, "The Boxer."

Prior to being a studio musician in New York City, Maury said he played professional baseball in the Baltimore Orioles farm system.

"It's not what's cracked up to be, a lot of long bus rides," said Maury, who has baseball cards dating back to the 1800s.

For 20 years, Maury owned two music stores, performed live nearly seven nights a week and taught thousands of kids how to play the drums.

"I understand this guy does work locally," Maury said while looking at a picture of an old student.

He currently teaches at Allentown Symphony Hall's Community Music School.

But a subject the father of three, grandfather of four and husband of 45 years has a tough time talking about is his time served in Vietnam.

"Not something I wanted to talk about and frankly would appreciate not talking about now," said Maury, who attributes music to saving his sanity and introducing him to his wife. "She kept hearing the music and asked if we took requests."

It was a chance encounter during that rehearsal Jon almost dismissed.

"I said, 'No,' and closed the door," he chuckled. "But she's persistent. You'd have to be to stay with me."

Through everything, Maury said he's tried to live by the Golden Rule.

"I would be nice to you, as would expect you to be nice to me, etc. and etc., right down the road. You can apply that to just about anything," Maury said.