Leo Summergrad, a beloved and loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle and friend died at the age of 98 after a long illness. A veteran of World War II, he grew up in the Bronx in a home where Yiddish was the primary language.
At the age of 16 he met his future wife Millie blowing kisses to her through her window as she was quarantined at home with Chicken Pox. They married in 1942 as he shipped out to the Pacific where he served as an Army medic until 1946. After the war, he became a highly successful Junior High School science teacher, Principal and School Superintendent all serving the South Bronx community where he had been born. He was beloved by his students and he remained in close contact with many of them. His children Paul and Eric were born in 1949 and 1953 and despite the tragic loss of Eric at the age of 53, he and Millie found the strength to continue a robust and socially engaged life in NY surrounded by family and friends.
Paul's marriage to Randy and the birth of his grandchildren Sophie and Michael in 1991 and 1992 moved them to the center of his existence where they remained throughout the remainder of his life. A distinguished Yiddishist, he accumulated one of the world's great collections of Yiddish songs, all carefully catalogued on an extensive database, and he contributed to the scholarly literature on Yiddish culture. He was a prince of a man and as his son Paul notes, "He was and is my North Star".
Leo is survived by his wife Millie; his son Paul; his daughter-in-law Randy Glassman; his grandchildren Sophie and Michael; his nieces Florence, Mara, and Mia (Tim Fossa); his great nieces and nephew Peter, Talia and Elena Fossa; his niece-in-law Mary Grace Summergrad; and his great nieces and nephews Lisa (Graham Leverick), Anna Summergrad, and Jeremy. He is predeceased by his son Eric and his nephew David Summergrad.
Graveside Service and Burial will be at 10 am on Sunday, August 1 in the Independent Workman's Circle Cemetery, 776 Baker Street Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachusetts.
Shiva will be at the home of Paul Summergrad and Randy Glassman on Sunday, August 1st from 5:00pm-7:30pm, with a Shiva Minyan at 7:30pm. All visitors must be vaccinated. Please wear a mask indoors.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Leo's memory may be made to Any Yiddish charity of your choice.
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Any Yiddish charity of your choice
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