George Wilson Sumner Jr., charity worker, dead at 74
By James Gonser
Advertiser Staff Writer
Honolulu retired businessman George Wilson Sumner Jr., a fourth generation kama'aina and tireless charity worker, died of cancer Monday at his family's Nu'uanu home. He was 74.
Sumner was born in Honolulu and attended Punahou School and Severn School in Maryland before graduating from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1949. He served in the Navy until 1952 and was a veteran of the Korean War.
George Wilson Sumner Jr. received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Cancer Society in 1974.
Sumner was director of personnel for Amfac from 1952 to 1962 and became an investment banker for Dean Witter Blyth & Co. EF Hutton, and Salomon Smith Barney until retiring in 1999.
His father was the president and general manager of Amfac and his great-grandfather was Paul Neuman, attorney general under King Kalakaua.
George Sumner III said his father was a very charitable man who loved playing golf and growing orchids.
"He had a real love of live," he said. "He worked hard and played hard. He told me many times that if you take out of the community, put back into the community. That is what he did."
Sumner sat on the national board of directors for the American Cancer Society, served on the board of directors of the Hawai'i Visitor's Bureau, the Kauikeolani Children's Hospital (now Kapiolani Medical Center) and St. Andrew's Priory. He was a trustee for Le Jardin Academy until last year.
He received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Cancer Society in 1974.
He is survived by his wife Bebe Moody Sumner, his children, Elizabeth Hyde Sumner and George Sumner III, and grandchildren George Sumner IV and Nicholas Rice Sumner.
Services will be held at 4 p.m. Oct. 28 at Punahou Chapel. Gifts can be made to the George W. Sumner Jr. Scholarship Fund at Punahou School.
