Paul O. Summers

Paul leaves three daughters: Aubrey Russell (and her husband, Owen) of New York City, Arielle Rush (and her husband, Jacob) of Crown Point, Indiana, and Keva Mosher (and her companion, Lou Diliberto) of Clearwater, Florida. He also leaves behind four grandchildren: Hendrix Benjamin and Lucy Jane “L.J.” Russell of New York City and Olive Lynn Rush and Stanley Myren Rush of Crown Point, Indiana.

Paul was the son of Margaret (St. George) Summers and Owen Summers, and leaves behind two brothers: Lawrence Summers (and his wife, Julie) of Oriental, North Carolina and Douglas Summers (and his wife, Gilda) of Wappingers Falls, New York, and a sister, Mary Louise Townsend (and her husband, John) of Kissimmee, Florida.

He was a graduate of Joseph Case High School (Class of 1961) where he played football, basketball, and baseball. He was elected to the initial class of the Case High Athletic Hall of Fame. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Rhode Island where he played football and baseball. He holds the URI record in baseball for pitching a complete 14 inning victory over Springfield College in 1965.

Paul served in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Vietnam War and received a Meritorious Mast.

He taught Health and Physical Education of 37 years: 2 in the Wappingers Central School District and 35 in the Swansea School District. He coached football and baseball in Wappingers, and in Swansea he coached football, basketball, baseball, and tennis.

He was nominated for The Massachusetts Teacher of the year in 1999 and was selected as the Swansea Citizen of the Year in 2008. In 2022, he was Memorial Day Parade Grand Marshall.

Paul was a member of the Swansea American Legion Post 303 for over 50 years where he served as Historian and Sergeant of Arms. He was a member of the Lance Corporal John J. Van Gyzen Marine Corps Post Detachment 1285 where he was the Librarian.

His Funeral Service will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025 at 10:00 AM in the Waring-Sullivan Home at Birchcrest, 189 Gardners Neck Rd., Swansea. Relatives and friends are invited. Burial to follow in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Swansea. Visitation will be on Friday from 4:00 to 8:00 PM.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the John J. Van Gyzen Detachment 1285 Marine Corps League, 265 High Street, Somerset, MA 02726 to go for scholarships or to the Swansea American Legion Post 303, Ocean Grove Avenue, Swansea, MA 02777, also for scholarships.