Carol Summers Obituary

Carol Summers
Dec. 26, 1925 - Oct. 27, 2016
Resident of Santa Cruz
Carol Summers, a world-renowned printmaker, passed away from myocardiopathy Oct. 27th, at home in Santa Cruz, CA. Born and raised in Woodstock, NY, to artist parents Ivan and Theresa Summers, Carol studied woodcut printmaking at Bard College with Lou Shanker. He became a professional woodcut artist, producing an impressive and influential body of work right up until his death. Carol was known as a grand master of the medium, and his work has been exhibited in museums and art galleries around the world. Recognized for its brilliant colors and bold iconography, his work includes shapes and forms replete with symbolic meaning, with context informed by his many experiences traveling across the globe. His prints were often startling in their boldness and beauty, earning him a devout following in the art world.
Carol was married three times. His second wife, a well-known dance choreographer in NYC, Elaine Summers, died in 2014. They had one son (Kyle Summers, m. Susan McRae, daughters Anita and Veronica). Carol moved to California in the 1970s. He met his third wife (Joan Summers) in Santa Cruz, and adopted her son (Ethan Summers, m. Anne-Marie Napoli, son Ezekiel). Carol and Joan (who was also an artist) were happily married until she passed away in 1998. Carol was close to his older sister Mary Lewis, an accomplished advocate for early childhood education, who passed away in 2009. Carol traveled extensively, and loved hiking in the Himalayas with his close friend Ronald Garrigues. He also loved Mexico, particularly Guanajuato, and India, leading architecture and folk art tours in Rajasthan.

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Published by Santa Cruz Sentinel on Nov. 20, 2016.

Memories and Condolences
for Carol Summers

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6 Entries

Mary Lea Kruse

December 22, 2017

As an art dealer for Carol it was a privilege to sell his artworks in Iowa. (I own 4 myself!) A friend and I traveled with him and Mary to India. My husband and I learned of the trip when we stayed at their hotel in Guanajuato. My friend and I had a fabulous time in India, wonderful experience! His artwork was spectacular. I am sorry for your loss, I just learned of his passing.

Jay Whitaker

February 17, 2017

Dear Andy (Ethan) and Kyle,

I am sorry for your loss I have fond memories of your family when I was growing up. The trip we did down to Mexico in the van, hiking around in the mountains next to the house on Prospect Ct. The laugh of your mom, the peacocks. Your family was always a bright spot for me in dark times throughout my life.

December 2, 2016

I'm really sorry I missed my chance to meet Carol Summers last year at his opening in Seattle. We have his piece Heart Rise and it lights up our world. His work, its graphic sensibility, is sensual and inspiring and we will cherish his print for many years to come as I am sure countless others will. My condolences to his family. Love and Light from Spokane Washington. -Avalon Kalin

Michele Thyne

November 24, 2016

I first met Carol when I was a little kid. It was just after WWII and he came to visit us in California, still, I remember this, in uniform. He was the kid brother of my mother's best friend, Mary Lewis, and in fact my grandmother and Trixie and Ivan were very close as well. Carol brought my mother some beautiful black silk fabric from China or somewhere he had been during the war which I still have. It was so precious no one could ever decide what to make of it.... Fast forward about 15 years.... I was working for Flying Tiger Airlines, a line that did charter flights world wide at that time and I was based in NY and living with Trixie and Ivan. Since they were mostly in Woodstock Carol swooped by one day to take up the baton and show the kid New York. He came in a Suzuki motorcycle, perfect transportation for whizzing thru NY traffic and off we went. He was by then a successful artist and had a wonderful loft in Greenwich Village full of amazing art. There was an inlaid door I will never, ever forget. His work was so intense and wonderful I was in awe. Nor will I forget Carol's New York, either, the little hideaway restaurants he knew, the galleries and museums. It was a wonderful education for me and the most perfect view of NY possible. In the fall the entire family gathered, Trixie and Ivan and Mary and my mother, a great crowd of us and Carol led the way on that last excursion as well. I did not see him after that as both of us seemed to stick to our respective coasts, not until Wendy's marriage to Mikhail many years later. I have a few photos of that day and if I can find a way to post them here I will do so though don't hold your breath, technology is not my friend (major understatement). Neither Carol nor I were very good correspondents with each other but had written a few times when I moved to Italy some years ago. He was delighted with the idea I lived where he had lived as well many years before and shared some of his memories. I invited him to come and visit but he never did and I realized it was just as well not to see the changes that had come about since his idyll years before. I still owe him a letter saying this, and also what an idyll (of sorts) it is for me to be here but now he can see for himself. What a lovely and complete life he had. What a lovely man he was. I offer my sincere and deep condolences to his family and friends as I am sure he will be deeply missed for a very long time... Much love to all, Michele Thyne (Miki Moore)

Michael Curnett

November 20, 2016

I met Carol and Joan in 1980 through Carol's son Kyle who studied martial art at the same studio as I did. I admired how they frequently sponsored exchange students and others, opening their home and hearts. I was fascinated with their artistic fervor, both as creators and as collectors. Carol and Joan offered me and my significant other to care-take their land where they planned to build a house. We worked planting an orchard and garden, cutting firewood, and preparing the site for building. At times I assisted him with his woodcut printing process. I came to know the younger son Ethan, and over the years I watched both Kyle and Ethan grow-up. Carol and Joan were so kind, tolerant and supportive, I will never forget their open-mindedness and generosity. Because of them, I found Bonny Doon, and the home my heart was seeking. I think Carol must have gotten a kick out of me...I was such a questing young man. He never required that much of me, it was more like he saw an opportunity to sponsor me out of his reverence for life. He must have received sponsorship in his life and enjoyed being able to "pay it forward". I will always admire Carol for his perception and artistic depiction of beauty, his earth connectedness, and his humanitarian views. He was a great mentor for me; I think I will always ask myself "what would Carol do?

Michael Curnett

November 20, 2016

Dear Kyle and Ethan,
I am so moved by Carol's passing and I want to offer my condolences for your loss. He was a wonderful man, and I know this must be a difficult time for both of you.
If there is something(s), I can do to be of help with anything, I am just up the mountain and can be reached at 831-425-8246.
Please see my "stories of Carol" entre.
I hope to see you both,
Michael Curnett

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