Laurence "Mac" Summer

Laurence Lee (“Mac”) Summer, 85 years old, of Tucson, AZ. Born March 1, 1941, in Paterson, NJ, to Nathan and Lillian (nee Kronfeldt) Summer. Passed away March 10, 2026. Survived by: His wife Susan (“Sue”) Newfield. Daughter Jobie Summer. Son Jon Summer, daughter-in-law Jill and granddaughters Morgan and Sydney. Son Richard Summer, daughter-in-law Lisa, grandson Wesley and granddaughter Bailey. Daughter Meridith Litton, son-in-law Raleigh, grandson Raleigh and granddaughter Hope. Son Michael Summer, daughter-in-law Karen, granddaughter Katie and great-grandson Roman, and granddaughter Anna. Sister Gail Szerlip Isaacs and nephews Mark Szerlip (wife Lisa) and Norm Szerlip. His previous wife Loren Yagoda (Jobie and Jon’s mother). Preceded in death by: His parents. His wife Judith Summer (Richard, Michael and Meridith’s mother). Brother-in-law and business partner Bill Szerlip. Brother-in-law Ron Isaacs.

Mac was successful in business and his personal life. He was driven, ambitious and envisioned great things and made them happen. He was a leader and an entrepreneur. He did not have a bone of procrastination in his body. He was outgoing and confident. He had a good sense of humor and an easy-going attitude. He was very likable. He made people feel comfortable immediately. He never met a stranger. It was easy for him to make connections with people. He used to take pride in meeting someone, talking to them, and then saying, “I’m their new best friend.”

Mac was raised by Jewish parents in Paterson, NJ, and celebrated his bar mitzvah at age 13. He lost his father at the tender age of 17, which had a profound impact on his life. He admired his father and he strove to make him proud. Through his adult years, having missed out on guidance from his dad, he became the voice of guidance to his children and many others. He would never shy away from giving someone advice he really thought was in their best interest. It might be something no one else would tell that person. But he would—if he thought it would help them or make their life better. He would initiate the difficult conversations—because he cared. Many people credit the positive trajectory of their lives to a talk he had with them.

Mac attended the University of Arizona. One of his life-long friendships, with his dear friend Tony, started there. He worked one college summer as a tour bus driver and guide in Yellowstone National Park, which gave him a great love and appreciation for nature and the outdoors. He was also a veteran and served in the Army as a tank driver. He had many funny stories about those days.

Mac was a brilliant businessman. He was intelligent, confident, capable and self-assured. He was an excellent negotiator. And an amazing problem-solver. When a problem had 2 obvious solutions to everyone else, he would come up with at least 2 more no one else had thought of! He excelled at sales. One of his favorite sayings was, “Salesmanship begins when the customer says no.” Early in his lifetime, he worked in different sales positions. He also worked as a stockbroker on Wall Street in New York City. He worked as a young executive in San Diego, CA. He worked for a company providing security to the rich and famous celebrities’ homes in Palm Springs, CA. He was full of stories about those days, too. He got his real estate license in AZ, not to be a realtor, but to understand real estate transactions. Finally, he started his own home alarm and security business in AZ, with his brother-in-law Bill as his partner.

Mac was the proud CEO of Dictograph Security Systems, Dictoguard Security Patrol and Dictoguard Private Investigations. He also became a licensed private investigator in AZ. The company motto was, “We Protect Lives & Property.” He successfully grew the business to multiple locations in Tucson and Phoenix, AZ, and Albuquerque and Santa Fe, NM, with 550 employees. He said it felt good to know so many people and families benefited from him providing employment.

Then Mac had a medical setback. He was diagnosed with kidney cancer and had a kidney removed. Following that, he sold his business and retired early. But his story didn’t stop there. He enjoyed retirement and had many hobbies. He always kept busy. He loved to live life! He loved to travel. He maintained friendships. He made new friends. He was always going and doing. No one ever guessed him at his chronological age. He looked much younger and was more active than most people his age. He always said he was living on borrowed time, but that borrowed time turned into 34 years as a cancer survivor!

In his youth, Mac’s favorite television series was The Rifleman and he fell in love with Winchester rifles and went on to collect many of them. All through his life he loved the old Western movies and especially John Wayne’s roles as the quintessential cowboy. He enjoyed reading Louis L’Amour western novels. He admired the values of heroism, patriotism, integrity, strength, courage and justice. He dreamed of owning a ranch and raising a family—and made his dream come true with his wife Judith. They owned a beautiful Santa Fe-style ranch home with horses and many other animals. And he watched his children have grandchildren during that time. He was a man’s man. He was masculine and had toughness, strength of character, was dependable, honorable, capable and handy.

Over the years Mac enjoyed many hobbies including: competing in arm wrestling and quick draw, shooting, fishing and fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding, golf, ping pong, tennis, and playing poker. He also had many collections and he taught himself about all of them either by reading or talking to other knowledgeable people. He collected and worked on antique guns, collected antique watches and pocket watches (and gifted them), collected antique coins, collected unique handmade knives, and collected and worked on classic British sports cars. He gave each of his children one of his cars.

After being widowed, the last chapter of Mac’s life was spent with his wife Sue. Both liked country western music and they met while out dancing. Mac had very good rhythm. When he was in high school, he won a dance contest. He was also selected to dance on the American Bandstand television teen dance show. Mac and Sue were blessed to have almost 20 years together. They had a fairy tale marriage. They were very compatible and very much in love. What they had was rare and special. And they knew it and were grateful. Both loved to travel and they traveled all over the country, exploring all 50 United States, as well as doing some international travel. They were deeply devoted to each other. Mac was a wonderful husband. He was honest, loyal, a protector and provider. Having met later in life, they did not have any children together, but they did spend 13 years raising and loving their 4-legged son, Mac’s Goldendoodle companion dog, Handsome Samson. Samson passed 6 months before Mac.

Mac passed away in Tucson, AZ, following complications from surgery, with Susan and other family members at his side in the hospital. His body has been returned to the earth and his final resting place is at East Lawn Palms Cemetery. He will be lovingly remembered as an easy-going guy in faded blue jeans with a baseball cap and a smile. He will be dearly missed by his family and friends. And, more than can be put into words, he will be deeply missed by the love of his life—his wife Susan.