Sumner M. Barnett

Sumner M. Barnett, age 97, passed away on June 27, 2025 with family by his side.

Sumner was born and raised in Winthrop, was a resident of Newton for 67 years, maintained a home in Marstons Mills and moved to Needham for his last years.

Sumner, the son of Louis & Bertha (Hoberman), graduated from Northeastern University after serving in the Army Air Corps as a PFC radio operator and flight controller. He received two World War II service medals for his time in the Philippines and Okinawa.

Sumner married Adelle Aronson in 1954 after being introduced by life-long friends. Together they raised four sons, each of whom are married, Alan & Carri (Levey), Carl & Sheri (Shore), Rich & Laura (Tye), Bob and Ingrid (Coleman); along with their children, Josh & Xiayu (Wang), Ben, Pamela, Leslie, Adam, Matthew, Elizabeth and Anneliese. Sumner is survived by in-laws Jack Aronson, Tammy Murphy, and cousins Fran Zacks and Dan Barnett, as well as by his many nieces and nephews. Sumner was pre-deceased by his wife Adelle and sister Eleanor Sandler, also David Sandler, Mimi Aronson, Arthur Aronson and Lewis Zacks.

As a professional Sumner joined his father at United Art in Boston later moving to an executive position at Zayre Stores and added Asian sourcing responsibilities in later years. Upon leaving Zayre he formed a Manufacturer’s Rep Group. After retiring Sumner worked with his son Rich at Scanner Master.

Sumner had an enduring devotion for his synagogue and faith. He also loved spending time with his sons and their wives, eight grandchildren and the dogs at his homes in Newton and Cape Cod, working in the yard and reading books, but most of all he loved sitting on the Cotuit pier with Adelle watching the boats and the sunset while holding hands.

Graveside services at Mishkan Tefila Memorial Park, 2609 Centre St., West Roxbury, on Sunday, June 29 at 11am.

Following burial, memorial observances will be at Rich & Laura’s home in Newton until 4pm and 7-9pm, continuing on Monday and Tuesday at Carl & Sheri’s home in Hudson MA from 6:30-9pm. Observances will be held at Alan and Carri’s home in Stamford, CT on Monday at 7pm and at Ingrid’s parent’s apartment on the upper eastside of NYC at 7pm on Wednesday.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers donations in Sumner’s name be made to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, www.nationalmssociety.org or Hadassah, www.Hadassah.org