Anne-Marie Wiemer-Sumner

1938 - 2022

1938 - 2022
Anne-Marie Wiemer-Sumner, PhD, longtime Washington Square community leader, psychoanalyst, academic, and great admirer of creative expression passed away at her home in Manhattan on January 29, her children by her side. Dr. Sumner was a vocal advocate known for her altruism, compassion, graciousness, and inexhaustible generosity of spirit. As a neighbor recently described, "Her fountain of energy radiated throughout the Park and blocks beyond."

Dr. Sumner was born in East Prussia in 1938. During WWII, she, her mother, and her sister fled on foot in the middle of the night with nothing but what they could carry. Dr. Sumner became a naturalized citizen in 1956 and felt immense pride in being an American. She believed in the importance of giving back to her community and in the sanctity of voting, showing up to the polls on election days at dawn to ensure she would be the first person to vote in her district. She was a staunch supporter of mental health and women's rights.

Working as an administrative assistant during the day while attending night school, she graduated from Hunter College in 1963. Two years later Dr. Sumner earned her Master's from NYU and rose to become NYU's Assistant Chairman of Admissions. In 1969, she went on to serve as Assistant Dean of Students at Hunter College and later as Associate Dean of Students at Cooper Union. Simultaneously, Dr. Sumner received her certification in Psychoanalytic Therapy from the Washington Square Institute for Psychotherapy in 1975, becoming a Supervisor within two years. While still at Cooper Union, she started a family and opened her own private psychotherapy practice, eventually earning her Doctorate in Psychoanalysis at age 50. Her empathy for others, especially those suffering, knew no bounds and to this day, former patients stop by her stoop to share how much Anne-Marie helped them.

Dr. Sumner served with the Washington Square Association for over 30 years, over half of which was as their President, and was instrumental in securing support for the six-year restoration of the Park and its iconic Arch and dedicated to ensuring that the Park had a Christmas tree every year. She treasured attending the Washington Square Musical Festival and watching children playing in the Park.

Dr. Sumner was intrinsically a humanist who was buoyant, warm, and always available to offer a kind ear, sage advice or a helping hand. She possessed a deep capacity for joy that illuminated all nearby, adored Patricia Underwood hats, Marimekko, and Issey Miyake, and loved her family, friends, and her dog, Homer, intensely.

Anne-Marie Sumner was married to the late Eric Eden Sumner, famed Bell Labs inventor, until his death in 1993. She is survived by her children Erika and Trevor Sumner; stepchildren Eric Sumner, Jr. and Hilary Langley; sister Crystal Dygos; and companion, Bernard Pachter.

Dr. Sumner's Memorial Service will be held in early Spring. Donations may be made to the Washington Square Association/Friends of Washington Square Park, Cooper Station, PO Box 1395, New York, NY 10276 or at WashingtonSquareNYC.org.