John & Gloria Summers

John Benjamin Summers October 21, 1930 - January 23, 2024

Gloria June Hinman Summers June 23, 1932 - October 10, 2023

John Summers was born in Milford, Massachusetts in 1930 to William and MaryEllen Summers.  He was one of eight children living in their small home here in Upton, MA. His father traveled often as an American League Umpire leaving MaryEllen to cope with the bedlam.

Gloria June Hinman was born in Olean, NY to Fred and Neva Hinman.  She lived in Olean and then nearby Portville and met John on a blind date while he was attending St. Bonaventure University in Olean.

Shortly after college, John joined the Army where he served as a communications officer and spent one of his most memorable tours stationed in Point Hope, Alaska. Gloria and John corresponded during this time and then John proposed to Gloria by mail. She accepted and they were married on January 29, 1954.

John and Gloria settled in the DC area and raised three children. John continued his education, receiving his law degree from Georgetown University.  Gloria worked as a secretary at Firearms International.  Gloria worked for Mr. Winter.  Yes, that’s right, Mrs. Summers worked for Mr. Winter.

John had an illustrious career in Washington, DC with the National Association of Broadcasters as their Senior Executive Vice President and General Manager. In his frequent business travels, he spoke and consulted on broadcasting issues but also made it a point to visit TV and radio stations around the country.  Gloria traveled often with John on his business ventures and spent time in Hawaii, Las Vegas and attended numerous functions in Washington, DC, meeting all sorts of dignitaries.

In 1974, they purchased their beloved beach house in Duck, NC where the family had many years of special get togethers and holidays with family and friends.  Then, in 1987, they purchased a second home in Duck where John and Gloria would eventually retire.  They traveled extensively but when home, John enjoyed fishing, tennis, gardening, cooking and spending time with children and grandchildren. Gloria joined the choir at Duck Church and sang with them for over 30 years.  She also was a voracious reader.

John will be remembered for his ability to retain facts as well as his wonderful ability to tell stories.  He too read many books and documentaries over the years and could recall so many details. He told many stories about his career and the people he met but some of his best stories usually centered around the Summers brothers and the shenanigans they got into over the years.

Words we’ve heard others use to describe Gloria are class act, beautiful, kind, big personality, feisty, effervescent, and accomplished. She certainly was all of these and more. She was one of the smartest and wisest of women– a women's libber who was before her time–she was opinionated and didn’t mind voicing her thoughts.

John and Gloria are survived by their son, John F. Summers (Lisa) of Fredericksburg, Va, their two daughters: Stephanie Reise (David) of Coconut Creek, FL and Stacy Hodes (Peter) of Charlotte, NC; and seven grandchildren.  John was preceded in death by his four sisters: Jenny Stockwell, Barbara Knapik, Celia Grynsel and Mary Strachan; and three brothers: Bill, George, and Charlie Summers.  Gloria was preceded in death by her brother Fred Hinman, Jr.

John and Gloria were married for 68 years and touched us all deeply.

We will celebrate their life and their legacy with a funeral Mass on Saturday, June 29 at 10:00 A.M. at St. Gabriel the Archangel Church, 151 Mendon Street, Upton, MA. Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery, Upton.