|
In Memorium, Edward T. Summer (March 18, 1946 – Nov. 13, 2014) Dear Dick: We ( Lesley Hudson & Cheryl Brock) would appreciate your help in posting this Memorial announcement for our Class of 1964’s website and if possible, for the Class of 1963 as well. Though Ed's picture is in the 1963 yearbook- he was originally part of that class- he actually graduated Ken West in 1964. Mike Hindus (’64) informed us that after the cessation of January graduations, Ed decided to stay on through June 1964. He will be fondly remembered by members of both classes. We would like his Memorial message to be: We are sad to report that our longtime friend and classmate, Edward Summer, died from cancer on November 13, 2014 in New York City, his home for many years. Throughout his rich creative life, he was recognized for his accomplishments in many fields of art and film. Ed never lost his affection, vision or involvement in the Western New York community, even maintaining his Kenmore residence throughout his life. In 2003, he founded the Buffalo International Film Festival (BIFF)*. He strongly believed in Buffalo’s future as a promising hub for film production. He promoted this in his interview in "Shoot Buffalo”, an ongoing documentary project which promotes regional filmic locations, it’s film community and the developing of the Pierce-Arrow Film Arts Center project on Elmwood Avenue. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgRzYRJHT90 Linked beneath are obituaries from Ed’s alma mater, Antioch College, and from the Buffalo News plus his official biography on Wikipedia. Taken together, these three sources begin to outline the enormous scope of his accomplishments and passions, although none can convey his very dry humor or the fierce visions that moved his daydreams into printed and cinematic realities: http://antiochcollege.org/news/obituaries/edward-t-summer-69 Obituary from Antioch College http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/obituaries/edward-summer-founder-of-buffalo-international-film-festival-dies-at-68-20141118 Obituary from the Buffalo News http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Summer Ed's Wikipedia page Memorials are planned for both NYC & Buffalo. On April 18, 2015 at 4pm, there will be a gathering at the New York Society for Ethical Culture, on CentralParkWest at West 64th St in Manhattan. There will also be a Memorial in the Buffalo area, probably in May. If you wish to attend either Memorial, please contact Cheryl Brock at (212)243-5378, as she is in communication with Ed's widow, Renee’ Russell. *Ed commissioned a BIFF poster from Cheryl Brock (’64) which is now hanging in Ken West.
|
Kathy Meer (Tolien)
This obituary appeard in the Buffalo News
March 18, 1946 – Nov. 13, 2014
Edward Summer, the multifaceted writer, artist, filmmaker and movie and animation historian who founded the Buffalo International Film Festival, died Thursday after a battle with cancer. He was 68.
Born in Buffalo, he studied painting at the Albright Art School and had a special exhibit of his drawings in a group show at the Buffalo Museum of Science when he was 15.
After graduating from Kenmore West High School in 1963, he studied at Antioch College before returning to complete a bachelor’s degree in English at the University at Buffalo. He also earned a master’s degree in outdoor education from the University of Wyoming.
Joining the inaugural class of what became the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in 1966, he made a student film, “Item 72-D, The Adventures of Spa and Fon,” which won numerous awards, was shown worldwide at festivals and introduced the actor Hervé Villechaize.
In 1971, Mr. Summer opened one of the nation’s first comic book stores, Supersnipe Comic Book Emporium on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, and later established a comic art gallery nearby.
A former customer noted on his Facebook page that “Ed truly was the boy with the most comic books in America.”
He was a writer for Marvel Comics from 1972 to 1989 and was a writer and editor for DC Comics from 1980 to 1990. He contributed the plot for the first issue of Marvel’s “Red Sonja,” and helped start the process that gained long-denied royalties for the comic book artists who created Superman.
He received a National Endowment for the Arts grant to produce a documentary film about the history of American comic strips and comic book arts, and interviewed many leading cartoonists, but never finished it.
He also was an executive producer of the first “Conan the Barbarian” film, for which he wrote the original treatment and screenplay. A contributor to Time magazine and the Skeptical Inquirer, he wrote numerous articles about film and comics.
His better-known efforts include a collection of Disney cartoonist Carl Barks’ stories, “Uncle $crooge McDuck: His Life and Times”; a novel, “Teefr”; and a prequel, “The Legend of Teddy Bear Bob.” He created “The Dinosaur Interplanetary Gazette,” the first online science magazine for children.
He was a screenwriter for Walt Disney Pictures since 1981. His credits include the animated shorts “Mickey Mouse’s Merry Pranks” and “The Devil and Donald Duck.”
In 2004, he founded the Digital Nitrate Prize to encourage the development of methods to preserve historic movies by duplicating the highly defined look of nitrate motion picture film.
In conjunction with the Buffalo International Film Festival, which he founded in 2006 and served as president, he turned up evidence that Buffalo was the home of the world’s first movie theater and developed a tour of the sites of the city’s landmark movie palaces.
Mr. Summer rubbed shoulders with notables all his life. Renowned photographer Milton Rogovin was a family friend. He knew acclaimed local watercolorist Robert Blair from childhood.
In the early 1960s, he worked as an actor and stage manager with Fred Keller and Neal DuBrock and appeared in “Many Moons,” a production choreographed by Michael Bennett at Studio Arena Theatre.
At UB, he studied with Leslie Fiedler, Robert Creeley and John Barth and created a comic strip for the Spectrum student newspaper with Spain Rodriguez.
His classmates at NYU included Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone. In the 1970s, he worked with director Brian DePalma to revise the promotional materials for “Phantom of the Paradise.”
A longtime friend of “Star Wars” producer George Lucas, who was believed to be a silent partner in his comic art gallery, he served as a script and marketing consultant for “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”
Since 1981, he was an adjunct professor of film at the School of Visual Arts in New York City.
He was a certified instructor of Constructive Living, a philosophy of mindfulness. He also was a founding member of New York Area Skeptics and a longtime member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Ring 12.
– REST IN PEACE, ED
Lesley Hudson
For those interested in charitable donations in Ed's name, I can tell you that in my last telephone call with him late last fall, when mortality was decidedly not a part of the conversation (I had no idea at the time how ill he really was) we had been generally discussing the Buffalo International Film Festival. He urged me to spread the word that donations to its work would be greatly appreciated. The foundation that bears its name is a 501(c)(3) non profit and donations are tax-deductible. The organization, besides hosting an annual film festival is involved in many worthy projects and I urge people to check out its Wikipedia page, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buffalo_International_Film_Festival to learn about these.
One of its supported activities which Ed was involved in is something called The Buffalo Cultural Walk of Fame. From their web page: "The BCWoF was created to honor Buffalo and Western New Yorkers who have enriched the universe with their artistic contributions in Literary, Visual, and Performing Arts. To maintain the legacy of our vast heritage, their names are engraved in granite plaques and permanently recessed into the sidewalk at Elmwood Avenue and Bidwell Parkway. This location is the gateway to our cultural corridor. This encompasses the Albright Knox, the Burchfield Penny Center, and the Historical Society." I plan to nominate Ed Summer as one of the Walk of Fame's honorees. Perhaps others would like to join me in that effort.
Jan Thompson (Newstrom)
I am in tears!
Eddie Summer and I had birthdays one day apart. While at Ken West, I spent many hours discussing the brewing of dandelion wine with him, which he was creating in his bedroom closet and drawing imaginative pictures on his bedroom floor !
Ed was the most artistic, sensitive and sincere of friends. It is hard to believe that he is no longer with us!
May his memory remain in our hearts!
Lesley Hudson
I remember him making Dandelion Wine - my recollection was in the basement though, his bedroom closet at the time was piled floor to ceiling with the most amazing comic books. The resultant product was less like wine than a fine liqueur. He taught me so much - the subtle joys of foreign films, the magic of authors like Ray Bradbury, how it was possible to be an existentialist at 15, how to develop your own films in a darkroom, cartoons you'd never see on Saturday morning TV... the list goes on and on. My world before this exposure was sheltered and circumscribed, defined by the received wisdom of the suburban ethos around me. Hanging with Ed during those important years was a real game-changer for me, reinforcing the validity of the questions many of us were just starting to ask, enriching every experience with sharper perception and deeper empathy.He left a legacy beyond just the achievements recited in his bio. A unique intelligence, a good man.
Kathy Meer (Tolien)
I found this great picture of Edward online and wanted to share it with all our classmates...
Rest in Peace, Ed
Kathy Meer Tolien