Joan K. Drummond

Joan Drummond of Blossvale, passed away November 1, 2025 at Wynn Hospital in Utica, NY. Born October 5,1942 to Kenneth and Myrtle (Stewart) Kenna, Joan attended and graduated from the Vernon-Verona-Sherrill school district. She had been an active member of the Verona First Presbyterian Church, including serving as a past deacon of the church.
Joan had a desire to live life full of excitement. In the 60's she participated in the Women's Division Demolition Derby at (Dick Waterman's) Utica-Rome Speedway, winning first place. An accomplished water skier, Joan was a ski instructor at Cypress Gardens in Florida and The Mohawk on Fourth Lake in Inlet, NY. She was co-owner of Skier's Landing, a ski school on Third Lake in Old Forge, NY. As a competitor, Joan skied throughout the northeast in slalom and kite skiing competitions, being the first woman to kite ski, an event that earned her many trophies.
Later in life, Joan found excitement through downhill skiing with ski trips to Colorado and Utah, and cross-country skiing locally, and in the Adirondacks. Joan also enjoyed spending time at her 73-year-old family camp, "Kenna's Inn", on Third Lake in Old Forge, kayaking the Adirondack waters.
On September 24, 2011, Joan participated in One Square Mile of Hope, on Fourth Lake in Inlet, NY. The event, a fundraiser for Susan G Komen For The Cure, broke the Guinness World Record for the largest raft of canoes and kayaks with 1,902 boats, and raised over $80,000 for breast cancer research.
Joan was a self-created business woman. She began her independent business career in her Vienna home with the formation of The Fabric and Knitting Mill in 1973. Joan became part of the Camden community in 1974 when she moved her business to 64 Main Street. Always in tune with the community's changing needs, Joan's business evolved into sporting goods, ski sales and rentals, and screen printing. In 1982, Joan formed Oak Tree Unlimited, adding a gift section with popular designed baby clothes, dolls, and doll clothes made by Mary Wheeler. In 1994, Joan created her promotions business. She relocated Oak Tree to her Forward Road home in Blossvale, operating her business there from September 2000, until her retirement in 2019.
Joan, an organizer and driving force for the Camden community, served several years as president and co-president of The Chamber of Commerce, and was its first executive director, where she engaged involvement among the business and school communities, and the residents of Camden.
Joan's vision and determination was instrumental in transforming Camden into a Christmas Town, a transformation that brought her great joy. Other events Joan was instrumental in were The Copper Wire Run, the Homecoming parade and vendor fair, Pioneer Days, Camden's Bicentennial, the Carriage House Museum's school house addition, the Camden Chamber Gift Certificate program, and the Chamber Christmas Tree ornament.
Joan was a recipient of the Camden Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the Year.
Joan was a former member of the Rome Chamber of Commerce and served as the Camden Chamber's liaison to the Mohawk Valley Chamber Alliance.
Joan is survived by her daughter Terry Boyce-Smith and son-in-law, Thomas G Smith, Taberg, daughter Kerry Boyce, Blossvale; three grandchildren, Dustin Anderson (Stephanie) Sherrill, Eric Anderson (Tamara Wallis) Chittenango, and Karley Anderson (Jake Sellin) South Carolina; five great grandchildren, Sydney Anagnos, Mia and Jase Anderson, Logan Anderson, and Thor Sellin; brother-in-law, Phillip Marmelstein, Oneida; fiance, Joe Digerolamo, Camillus, niece Cindy McInerney, great-nieces; Brooke Pattison, Rachael Pattison, and great-nephew; Ryan Pattison.
Joan was predeceased by her husband, Richard Drummond in 1980, siblings, Roger Kenna, Janet Campanie, and Sheila Marmelstein, and niece Deborah Moltz.
Joan's celebration of life will be 11:00, Saturday, November 15th, at the First Presbyterian Church in Verona.
To keep Joan's spirit shining, donations in her memory can be made to continue making Camden a Christmas town. Send to
Imagine Greater Camden PO Box 61 59 Main Street Camden, NY 13316.
Contributions may also be sent to Three Voices Presbyterian Church, PO Box 114, Verona, NY 13478, in memory of Joan Drummond.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Nunn and Harper Funeral Home, Inc. 418 N. George St., Rome NY 13440.
You may view the obituary and send a message of sympathy at www.nunnandharper.com.