Neil Ray Sommers' Obituary
Neil Ray Sommers of Lorain, Ohio passed away suddenly Sunday, October 2, 2022 at the age of 74.
A lifelong resident of Lorain, Neil was born on November 28, 1947 to Robert W. and Harriett A. Sommers. As a youth, he was a member of the Lorain Medics Hot Stove baseball team. His love of sports continued into high school where he played basketball, football, and baseball at Lorain High School, graduating in the class of 1966. That same year he had the honor of being a Lorain Sports Hall of Fame Danny Award recipient in recognition of his academic and athletic achievements.
In 1968, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. Neil was stationed at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, New Mexico. During his service, he completed a tour in Korea and two additional duty assignments in Germany.
After completing his four years of service, he returned to Lorain, Ohio and married his high school sweetheart, Barbara Greenert, on August 5th, 1972. Neil and Barbara had 5 children and 14 grandchildren together. They recently celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
Neil received a Bachelors of Economics from Cleveland State University and a Masters of Business Systems from Baldwin Wallace College. He began his banking in career in 1973, serving in a variety of positions at Citizen’s Home Savings, AmeriTrust, and National City Bank. In 1996, Neil took over management of the Lorain School Employee’s Credit Union (LSECU), guiding the organization through a merger with the School Employees of Lorain County Credit Union (SELCCU) in 2014. In October of 2014, Neil was announced as the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the School Employees of Lorain County Credit Union, now renamed as Achieve Credit Union. He served in the position of CEO of Achieve Credit Union up until his death.
Neil was very active in the city of Lorain’s soccer community. Throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s he coached teams of various age groups, was a licensed referee, and served a term as the President of the Lorain Youth Soccer Association. In 1994, Neil became the head coach of the Lorain High School Men’s Varsity Soccer program, their final season before the school was closed. He instilled a love of athletics in his children and grandchildren and took great joy in coaching and supporting them from the sidelines.
Among his many additional affiliations, Neil served as Vice President and President of the Lorain High and Lorain Admiral King Athletic Boosters. He has also served as Vice President and President of the Lorain Sports Hall of Fame. He was a current board member of the Lorain Port Authority, which he proudly served on for eight years.
Neil was an active parish member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church of Lorain. He cherished the time spent with his family at weekly mass, especially when he got an opportunity to present the offertory gifts with his grandchildren by his side.
Neil is survived by his wife Barbara (Greenert) Sommers; Children Bridget Boardman (Kevin), Matthew Sommers (Kelly), Megan Sommers Bascone (Dominic), Brett Sommers (Shannon), and Bradley Sommers (Danielle); Grandchildren Rebecca, Collin, Allison, Landen, Raegan, Maddox, Leo, Jude, Nora, Oliver, Tyler, and Keegan; Brothers George Sommers (Kathy) and Keith Sommers; Sisters Gena Beck, Donna Meyers (Dan), Annette Such, Beverly Shattuck (Robert), Margaret Hreha (Kenneth), Carol Hellinger (Terry), and Linda Creadon (Vincent); and many nieces and nephews.
Neil is preceded in death by his parents Robert and Harriett; Sisters Janet Sommers, Lura Krueck, and Gayle Spalich; Brother Robert Sommers Jr.; Nephews Kenneth Hreha and Randall Beck; and Grandchildren Harper Sommers and Carter Sommers.
The family will receive friends on Monday, October 10, 2022 from 3:00 – 7:00 p.m. in the Dovin and Reber Jones Funeral & Cremation Center, 1110 Cooper Foster Park Road, Amherst. Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 309 W. 7th. Street, Lorain. (EVERYONE PLEASE MEET AT CHURCH). Rev. Father Daniel Divis, Pastor, will officiate. Interment will follow at Calvary Cemetery, Lorain. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.dovinreberjones.com
In lieu of flowers the family asks that a donation be made in honor of Neil R. Sommers to one of the charities listed below:
• Tunnel to Towers Foundation – T2T.org
• Folds of Honor - foldsofhonor.org
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