RENEE SUMMER

SUMMER--Renee F. Renee F. Summer, loving mother, sister and grandmother, retired advertising executive and institution of Central Park West cooperative boards, passed away on May 16, 2023 with her children and caregiver by her side. Renee was a uniquely smart, funny and beautiful person who raised a family and built a career in New York City. Renee was born in New York City and graduated from Woodmere Academy while living in Hewlett Harbor, NY (50 years later hosting the class reunion at her apartment). Renee attended Brandeis University, finishing her B.A. degree at Hunter College in New York after getting married. Renee's career started in 1973 at Ted Bates Advertising after both of her young children had started school. She was the first woman to be a trainee in account work at Ted Bates and, within one year, was promoted from Assistant Account Executive to Account Executive. After a brief position as an Account Executive at Needham, Harper & Steers, Renee returned to Ted Bates in 1977 as an account executive and over the next 23 years was promoted to progressively senior roles including Senior Vice President and retiring as a Managing Director. After starting in consumer products including inventing the "non-whitening" segment of the deodorant category for Arid and creating "socially relevant, yet respectful" campaigns for Trojan for Carter-Wallace, Renee became a true expert in prescription and OTC products and the "RX to OTC switch". She was also proud of her time leading the Peace Corps account at Bates for Ad Council. Following her retirement in 2000, Renee dedicated her life to others, intellectual pursuits and, most of all, her grandchildren. Renee served as a mentor for students at Hunter College where she loved meeting and staying in touch with her mentees and joined the Lotos Club where she served on numerous committees and received the Lotos Club Award of Merit among other recognitions. In her "spare time" over her life and career, Renee served on the co-op boards of the Dakota Apartments and The Prasada leading many major renovation and design projects. As a grandparent, Renee wrote books and stories for the children worthy of publishing, took endless well-intended but poorly framed, focused or lit photos and filled her apartment with books, toys and games for every visit. Renee was a real "sit on the floor" grandparent who spent hours creatively playing and entertaining her grandchildren and, as the children grew, taking them to the Museum of Natural History and other exciting outings in the City. Renee is survived by her daughter Alexis Summer Angel of Miami, FL, her son Justin Summer of Tierra Verde, FL, son-in-law Spencer, daughter- in-law Christine, her four beloved, adored and heavily photographed grandchildren Sophia, Max, Joshua and Harrison to whom she dedicated the second half of her life, her brother Sandy Feldman, sister-in-law Roberta, nephew Matthew Feldman, sister Robin Shenkel and brother-in-law Joel. In Renee's memory consider donating to Hunter College at Hunter.cuny.edu/give.