4 minute read
Meet the Drury Family: Jon, Shabnam, Shia, and Kaden
www.DanvilleLivingCA.com @DanvilleLivingCA #DanvilleLivingCA
By Alexandra Sullivan, Resident since 2017
What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas - unless you meet your future spouse while on separate trips! Jon Drury was in Las Vegas for a friend’s bachelor party when he met Shabnam Ezazi, who was at the same spot for a girls weekend. A couple of big moves, a wedding, and two little boys later, Las Vegas is now a frequent anniversary trip that the Drury’s enjoy making.
Shabnam and Kaden sit next to Jon and Shia
On July 23, 2011, Shabnam and Jon said “I do” in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. For Shabnam, a born and raised Bay Area native, it was a dream wedding - favorite hotel, top floor, beautiful all around. Prior to their urban nuptials, Shabnam and Jon became engaged on Christmas Eve in 2010.
Shabnam was born in Berkeley and went to Miramonte High School in Orinda. She went on to UC Davis and lived in the Roseville area when she and Jon first met. Jon was born and raised in Iowa. He attended the University of Northern Iowa. While there, he was a competitive track runner. After graduation, he moved to Arizona and began working as a high school history teacher. As he was teaching full time, he was also going to school at Northern Arizona to get his Master’s degree in School Administration.
Jon always knew he wanted to be a School Administrator. He has been working as a Vice Principal for over seven years now. Currently, he is one of the Vice Principals at Campolindo High School in Moraga. Funnily enough, Campolindo was Shabnam’s rival high school, “I still secretly root for Miramonte to win sports games when they play.”
Even before receiving her bachelor’s degree, Shabnam spent a significant time in her career field. Because of her father’s career in commercial real estate/property management, she always had a passion for the business. Shabnam is now the co-owner of Citadel Management Company, the commercial property management firm she’s worked at since 2008. She has her brokers license and still travels to Roseville part-time to run the business.
To start their family, the Drurys brought home sweet little Zoe, now 7, “Funny story is Jon wanted a dog from the second we moved in together. I didn’t want the shedding, so I told him as soon as he gets a job as an administrator we can get one.... and I held my end of the deal. We got Zoe the day after he was hired as a Vice Principal in Wheatland, CA.”
Their first son, Shia Jonathan, is now 4.5 years old. Not long after he was born, Jon and Shabnam decided to move back to the Bay Area to be closer to Shabnam’s large, extended family. That’s when they settled here in Danville. She only has one brother, but has plenty of Persian aunts, uncles, and cousins to go around! In October, their youngest son, Kaden Rumi, turned two years old.
The Drurys live within walking distance to Hap Magee Park. “We love that park, [the] kids love playing there, especially the water park during hot months.” When the family learned that Hap Magee was one of Danville’s best picture spots, they jumped on it and took some favorite family photos there last fall. Bike rides down the Iron Horse Trail are also a favorite activity of the family.
Having a pool in the backyard and two active little guys means lots and lots of swimming. Thanks to a couple years of lessons under his belt, Shia is a great swimmer and counts it among his favorite activities! He currently goes to Creative Learning Center, in Alamo, just down Danville Boulevard. Kaden, who is talking more and more every day, likes to point out “Shia’s school!!” every time they drive by it. Next year the whole family is excited to send him off to Kindergarten. As the saying goes, “The days are long, but the years are short.”
This past July, the Drurys made their first whole family trip back to Iowa, to visit Jon’s family. The Drurys of Iowa have owned their soybean and corn farm for generations. It was a chance to show Shia and Kaden another side of their family history and give them a taste of rural life. They spent the days playing on tractors and combines. While in Clarion, Iowa, the kids (and the rest of the family) spent a good chunk of their time showing off their skills while swimming in the cool, clear lake next to the Drury house.
Back here in Danville, the boys, of course, love going to Hap Magee as often as possible. Jon also likes to take the boys over to San Ramon Valley High School to run around. Coaching is something that he loves to do, and he has coached both basketball and cross country. It looks like Shia and Kaden will have access to tons of support and knowledge as they grow older. The love of sports extends to the whole Drury gang. Shabnam and Jon enjoy cheering for all the Bay Area sports - especially the Niners and the Giants.
For this young family, Danville has been a place to settle in together. They have a home they love, jobs that are fulfilling, and two great kids to keep them on their toes. What more could you ask for?
Do you know a neighbor who has a story to share? Nominate your neighbor to be featured in one of our upcoming issues! Contact us at asullivan@bestversionmedia.com.
