John Metzger Turns 100; String Band Serenades Centenarian

NORTH CAPE MAY — John Metzger marked his 100th birthday a day early, surrounded by family and friends, especially those from the Cape May County String Band, with whom he played until age 95.
Metzger was born Feb. 14, 1910 in Philadelphia, Pa. President William Howard Taft was in the White House, and walking on the moon was still considered silly talk.
Metzger and his late wife, Anna Mae Mealey, moved to North Wildwood in 1945. He remained a city resident until 2004 when he relocated to Victoria Commons on Townbank Road.
The Metzgers had three children, John Jr., Delores Mankowski, who still resides in the county, and Edward F. Metzger, who passed away in 2001.
Metzger has 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren. Many of them joined his birthday party at Victoria Commons on Feb. 13.
A man of many talents, Metzger worked in the fields of carpentry, music and magic.
He played the saxophone and banjo. He strutted up Broad Street in Philadelphia in the Mummers Parade on Jan. 1 for over 45 years.
He was a member of the Avalon, Woodland, Wildwood and Cape May County String Bands. In the Cape May County String Band, Metzger was an active member until he was 95.
Metzger has also performed the art of magic on many local stages as well as in Atlantic City, Philadelphia and aboard cruise ships. He shared the stage with Red Buttons and Martha Rae at the Manor Supper Club in the 1950s.
In the mid 1960s, Metzger also studied massage therapy. He owned and operated the first massage studio in Cape May County until 1995.
His is a familiar face taking his daily walk through the chill of winter to the heat of summer. Many of his fellow residents have never seen Metzger with anything by a smile on his face.