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10/21/1930 – 1/23/2024

John Benjamin Summers, age 93, of Duck, North Carolina, died at Spring Arbor of Fredericksburg, Virginia on January 23, 2024.

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

John joined the Army where he served as a communications officer and spent one of his most memorable tours stationed in Point Hope, Alaska.

He received his undergraduate degree from Saint Bonaventure University in Olean, NY, where he met the love of his life of 68 years, Gloria June Hinman. He received his law degree from Georgetown University.

John had an illustrious career in Washington, DC with the National Association of Broadcasters as their Senior Executive Vice President and Legal Counsel. In his frequent travels for work, he spoke and consulted on broadcasting issues but also made it a point to visit TV and radio stations around the country. He was a true people person and taught his children that working across the aisle on issues was the only way to bring about change. They resided in the Washington, DC area until his retirement in 1987.

He spent the entirety of his retirement years residing in Duck, NC. They traveled extensively but when home, he enjoyed fishing, tennis, gardening, cooking and spending time with children and grandchildren. If you fished or played tennis in the vicinity, you knew John. He educated many about saltwater fishing and expressed colorful language on the tennis court. If he caught too many fish, he would give them away to neighbors and friends. He volunteered in the community on various projects and was instrumental in getting the sidewalks implemented along Duck road.

John is survived by his son, John F. Summers of Fredericksburg, Va., his two daughters: Stephanie Reise of Coconut Creek, FL and Stacy Hodes of Charlotte, NC; and seven grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife, Gloria June Summers; four sisters: Jenny Stockwell, Barbara Knapik, Celia Grynsel and Mary Strachan; and three brothers: Bill, George, and Charlie Summers.

A Celebration of Life for John and Gloria will take place in John’s hometown of Upton, MA this summer.

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