Robert H. Sommer

Robert H. Sommer of Chatham, Massachusetts passed away peacefully on June 11, 2011. He was a long time resident of Harrington Park, New Jersey and frequent summer visitor to Cape Cod. He was born in Brookline, MA and grew up in Roslindale before joining the US Navy in 1943.

As an aviator in WWII, he served in the Mediterranean and thereafter continued flying as part of the Navy reserves for 20 years. After WWII, he received an undergraduate degree at Northeastern University in Accounting and then a Masters degree in Business from Boston University. After a 20 year corporate career in finance, he established his own financial consulting and tax accounting practice, which he maintained until 2009 in New Jersey. In addition, Mr. Sommer, along with his wife Margaret, owned and operated a mail order and book publishing business for many years.

He served as the President of the New Jersey Association of Public Accountants and was appointed by the Governor of New Jersey in 1994 to the State Board of Accountancy, on which he served for 15 years. He also served in various capacities with the National Society of Accountants (NSA) and the National Association of States’ Boards of Accountancy (NASBA).

In addition to his varied interests, there was no greater love than his family. He was married for 56 years to Margaret and leaves behind his three sons, Robert J. Sommer and his wife Lyn of Ridgewood, NJ and Chatham, MA; Kenneth F. and his wife Betsy, of Chatham, MA; and Ronald K. and his wife Helen, of Superior, CO.; four granddaughters, Liz Leger and her husband Curt of Great Falls, VA , Abby Gray and her husband Richard of Charlestown MA, Madison Sommer and Haley Sommer of Superior, CO.; and 3 great grandchildren, Maggie Gray, Will Leger and Cooper Leger.

Both Mr. Sommer and his wife were active members of First Church of Christ Scientist, in Englewood, N.J. for over 50 years. He was also a member of the West Roxbury – Dorchester Lodge A.F. & A.M. in Dedham, MA. A memorial service is planned for September in northern New Jersey, date and location to be determined. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be directed to the Scholarships for Accounting Students, with checks made payable to the NJ Association of Public Accountants, 1410 Shore Rd., Northfield, NJ 08225-2236.