Born: 1886
Died: July 13, 1941
Married: Annie Ginsberg, September 21 1909, Kings County, New York certificate # 8028
Children: Joseph Drutz, Sol Drutz and Bessie Drutz
Hyman Drutz opened Drutz Market, the Economy Market and Star Market when he came to Saranac Lake to cure of TB. He is buried in Pine Ridge Cemetery.
Lake Placid News, July 13, 1941
SARANAC MERCHANT TAKES OWN LIFE
Hyman Drutz, 55, produce merchant of Saranac Lake, took his own life by asphyxiation at 3.30 a. m. Friday.
Mr. Drutz had been in ill health and had threatened on several occasions to take his life and members of his family kept close watch on his actions.
Thursday night he retired in good spirits in his apartment at 3 Bloomingdale avenue. During the night, unknown to his wife, Mrs. Anna Drutz, and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Rachael Ginsburg, he arose and went to the kitchen. He sealed the room and windows and turned on the gas in the oven of the stove.
At 3:36 a. m. the gas exploded, breaking the windows and screens of the kitchen and other rooms, jarring loose plaster from the walls of the apartment. A small blaze was started in the kitchen.
Workers in McVeetys diner, next to the apartment, heard the explosion, as did Mrs. Henry Leis, owner of the house. They rushed to Drutz's apartment. They found Drutz lying on the floor of the kitchen. The fire department quickly extinguished the blaze, Drutz was hurried to the Saranac Lake General hospital but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
He was born in Spolck, Poland. He came to New York City with his family in 1904.
In 1926 he went to Saranac Lake and started a chain of grocery stores that carry his name. In the past few years he had been associated with his wife and son, Sol, a former member of the village board.
