Jerome M. Thier

Jerome Melvin Thier, a lifelong entrepreneur, athlete, and proud NEPA resident lived a life defined by independence, hard work, and unfailing commitment to family, friends, and community.

A native of Jessup, Pennsylvania, "Jerry" was born to Louis and Anna Thier in 1936. Jerry graduated from Scranton Central High School in 1954. An avid football player, he was "defensive standout" on the Scranton City football team in the legendary 1953 "Dream Game,". He was recruited to Brown University for his academic and athletic talent.

At Brown, Jerry majored in American Civilization and immersed himself fully in campus life, joining the Pi Lambda Phi fraternity and serving as President of the co-ed Faunce House Student Union Board of Governors.

After a brief stint in New York, Jerry returned to the Scranton-area to begin a diverse 65-year career. He rose quickly as a young executive at the International Salt Company, but soon shifted to a life of entrepreneurship, building and operating several significant businesses across the food and medical products industries, including Williams Bread, Boston Farms and Neuropedic Mattress.

Jerry went on to found the mergers and acquisitions firm, PMJ, representing sellers of successful businesses with Daniel Haggerty throughout northeastern Pennsylvania for more than 32 years.

An avid skier, Jerry was a professional ski instructor at Elk Mountain for 15 years and a proud member of the Professional Ski Instructors of America for four decades. Jerry skied 62 consecutive seasons at Elk from 1961 through 2024. One of his greatest joys was teaching his children to ski.

In 1969, Jerry appeared in a short but memorable role as Barbara Loden's estranged husband in her groundbreaking film, "Wanda."

Jerome is survived by his beloved wife of 25 years, Deborah Wisneski Thier; his three children from his first marriage -Whitney Thier of Coral Gables, Florida; Antony Thier, of Marin County, California; and Alex Thier of Washington, D.C.; as well as five grandchildren: Dalton, Charlie, Hannah, Izzy, and Bodhi. He is also survived by his brother, Norman Thier, of Boca Raton.

In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave, Scranton.

The funeral will be Friday at 12:30PM graveside in the Dalton Jewish Cemetery. Friends and family may visit at the Carlucci-Golden DeSantis Funeral Home, Inc. 318 East Drinker Street in Dunmore Friday morning from 10AM-11:30AM prior to the procession to the cemetery.