John M. Summers

John M. Summers, 58, of Mentor, died February 13, 2024 at Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights, OH. When he was born June 28, 1965 in Warren, OH, he was already an uncle five times over. John spent a year and a quarter at Youngstown State University before graduating from Kent State University in 1987 with a degree in Spanish, and a minor in Business. He earned his master’s degree in guidance counseling from John Carroll in 2002. John (aka Señor) was a Spanish teacher at Beachwood Schools for 33 years before his retirement in 2021. He was passionate about helping others and advised service organizations at Beachwood such as Esperanza, and Amnesty International. He was proud to have traveled to Cuba, bringing humanitarian supplies in the 1990s in opposition to “the immoral blockade.” John enjoyed singing and listening to music, especially his favorite band Rush, who he saw 17 times. He was an avid fan and frequent in-person and couch critic of all Cleveland sports, as well as international soccer. He had seen a game at almost every major league baseball stadium, including several that no longer exist. In his free time, John enjoyed bowling and golfing. He also loved to travel internationally, inspired by a semester abroad during his time at Kent, in Merida, Mexico. He was incredibly skilled at picking up language and traveled extensively with his wife Linda, and the two were engaged 28 “magical” years ago in Portugal at the south-western-most point in Europe. John was known to grasp life by the horns (literally, as he ran with the bulls in Pamplona). Friends, family and former students all remember him as being charismatic, quick-witted and kind. He was known for bursting into song or subtly inserting a relevant Simpson’s reference into a conversation. Survivors include his wife, Linda (nee DelaCourt) Summers; daughters, Alexandria “Alex” J. Summers, and Jacqueline “Jackie” M. Summers; and his sisters, Judith Gates, Carol (Billy) Cessna, and Elsie (Ken) McElhaney. Additionally, John loved and is loved by countless nieces and nephews, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Pearl Summers; and his sisters, Phyllis Summers, Margaret McVicker, and Nancy Bell. The family will receive friends to celebrate John’s life from 3-8 p.m. Friday, February 23, 2024 at the Brunner Sanden Deitrick Funeral Home & Cremation Center, 8466 Mentor Ave., Mentor, OH 44060. A funeral mass in his honor will be held 10 a.m. Saturday, February 24, 2024 at St. Bede the Venerable Church, 9114 Lakeshore Blvd., Mentor, OH 44060 (Please meet at the church.) Interment will be held in Raleigh Memorial Park, Raleigh North Carolina on March 2nd. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made to Mathews Local School District, 4096 Cadwallader – Sonk Rd., Cortland, Ohio 44410, to create a special fund for the Spanish Department. The family wishes to pass on John’s love of Spanish and travel to future generations. Please offer condolences at www.brunners.com.

John M. Summers

June 28, 1965 - February 13, 2024