NORTH CONWAY, N.H. — Herbert Sumner Sears died peacefully on April 26, 2016. He was 89. He was a resident of the Merriman House. His last days were spent surrounded by his family reminiscing about his adventures in skiing, running road races, hiking, drumming, cheering on his grandchildren in all of their activities and listening to his beloved jazz music.
He was born Sept. 27, 1926, in Lynn to Herbert V. and Bertha M. Sears and was raised in Saugus. He was predeceased by his parents, his brother, Richard, and his wife, Anna Josephine (Ouellette) Sears, also a resident of the Merriman House, who died on July 11, 2015.
Sumner loved jazz music from his early high school days, playing the drums in bands for school dances and throughout the community.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in December 1943 and began his service in 1944. After training in several disciplines in Massachusetts, Mississippi and Texas, his talent with the drums landed him in the 724th Army Air Force Band in Greensboro, N.C., where he played until it was disbanded in 1946. He ended his military career playing in bands at air force bases in Louisiana, California and Arizona.
In 1947, Sumner met his future wife, Jo, while skiing. They were married at St. Pius V Church in Lynn on May 6, 1951. They honeymooned at Perry’s Rest Motel, Intervale, and New Hampshire. They raised their family in Lynn.
In 1948, Jo and Sumner and friends built their log cabin on Town Hall Road in Bartlett. They spent weekends and vacations skiing, hiking and enjoying the White Mountains with their three daughters and many friends, with their beloved cabin always the home base.
As they raised their family, Sumner worked as a quality control engineer at Sylvania in Salem, Clevite Electronics in Waltham, and retired from Raytheon in Quincy. He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in industrial management from Northeastern University in 1971.
He was a member of the Boston Musician’s Union for many years, playing the drums with jazz and swing bands nights and weekends, earning money for family season ski passes.
Sumner and Jo were very active in the Lynn Snow Chasers. Sumner was a president and coordinator of its youth racing program. He also competed in races, winning many trophies.
Sumner was an avid runner, and belonged to the Lynn Athletic Club. He ran races throughout the Boston and North Conway area and competed three times in the Boston Marathon with a personal best finish in the top 50.
He enjoyed climbing throughout the White Mountains. Sumner also led his daughters’ junior high school class hikes up Mount Washington’s Fire Trail.
Upon retirement to his beloved cabin in 1987, Sumner skied every day possible. Jo and Sumner skied with their friends in Mount Washington Valley, Colorado, Alaska and Europe.
He and Jo were members of the Attitash Senior Skiers club. Later, he participated in NASTAR ski races in New Hampshire and Maine with the Mountain Meisters, winning several races in his age category.
Following Jo’s move to the Merriman House in 2000, Sumner visited Jo daily and was active in the Alzheimer’s Support Group for many years, while continuing to run, ski, and hike into his 80s.
Survivors include daughters, Patricia Sears Doherty (Joseph) of Albany, N.Y., Mary Jane Pierce (Michael) of Tigard, Ore., and Judith Sears Houston of Contoocook, N.H., nine grandchildren, Meaghan and Caitlin Doherty, Matthieu, Zachary (Melinda), Nathan (fiancée Rebecca), Diana and Antonia Pierce, Abigail and Madelyn Houston, and two great-grandchildren, Oliver and Aurora Pierce, and a nephew, Dr. R. Scott Sears (Jennifer) and their five children of Norfolk, Va.
Sumner’s family deeply appreciates the wonderfully compassionate and attentive caregivers, nurses, staff and volunteers at the Merriman House. They also thank the Hospice volunteers for their exceptional assistance during his final journey.
Service information: A wake will be held Friday, April 29, 2016 from 6-9 p.m., at FURBER AND WHITE Funeral Home, White Mountain Highway, North Conway.
A funeral service will be celebrated Saturday, April 30, 2016 at 2 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, Pine Street, North Conway. Burial will be in Garland Ridge Cemetery in Bartlett.
Memorial contributions may be made in Sumner’s name to the Merriman House or to Visiting Nurse Home Care and Hospice of Carroll County and Western Maine.
To send a message of condolence, or for more information visit www.furberandwhite.com?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss