Lucille Allison “Lucy” Sumner
Lucille Allison “Lucy” Sumner slipped away from this world on Thursday, February 15, 2024. She has gone to a place of eclectic music and eternal peace.
Lucy was born on November 13, 1955 in Stoughton, Wisconsin and was raised in Evansville. Growing up in a musical home, music became the primary throughline of her life. She had the talent and good fortune to study with outstanding musicians and teachers and performed with the Madison Sinfonia. While she played several instruments well, the violin was always her first love. She was a gifted teacher and passed her passion on to students everywhere she lived through the final years of her life.
Following graduation from Milton College, Lucy worked as a producer and host for Wisconsin Public Radio. She volunteered at and then served as program director for WORT community radio in Madison. At WORT Lucy hosted a variety of programs, often interviewing visiting musicians. A wide-ranging interview with Ravi Shankar helped her secure an on-air radio host and producer position with WNYC radio in New York. There she shared her deep knowledge of music with untold numbers of listeners and became recognized from appearances at influential musical venues and write-ups in music publications.
In the mid-1990s Lucy began to struggle and eventually returned to Madison. She fought to regain stability and to recreate a full life for herself, eventually succeeding after a move to Fond du Lac in 2013. There she found sobriety and a loving and supportive community. Volunteer service at Broken Bread Food Pantry led to a role as its director, a position she held until retirement in 2023. Lucy was active in Fond du Lac’s Gratitude Club and found through it many close friendships. Her proudest accomplishment was earning her 10-year sobriety coin, presented to her in the last week of her life.
Lucy was predeceased by her parents, Carolyn Achen Sumner and William A. Sumner, Jr. She is survived by her sisters, Margaret Sumner (Wayne Prior) and Elisabeth “Libby” Giacomini (Peter), and her brother, William A. Sumner III, in addition to several cousins, nieces and nephews. She was predeceased by her former husband, Darryl Banks.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be directed to The Gratitude Club Fund, c/o Fond du Lac Area Foundation, 1020 S Main St, Fond du Lac, WI 54935, or a charity of your choosing. A celebration of life will be held at The Gratitude Club, 295 Ruggles St., Fond du Lac on Saturday, March 9, 2024, 1:00-4:00 PM, with a brief program at 2 PM. Please wear something that reminds you of Lucy and share the story behind it.
Visit www.zacherlfuneralhome.com to send condolences.