Obituary of Sumner R. Ziegra, Sr.

Sumner R. Ziegra, M.D., age 90, of Washington Crossing, PA died suddenly at home on March 12, 2013. He is survived by his wife, Marie Rolleri Ziegra, a daughter, Cynthia Jane Ziegra, VMD, PhD, of Ringoes, NJ, 4 sisters-in-law, a brother-in-law, and several nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews. He was predeceased by a son Sumner R. Ziegra, Jr and 2 brothers, Louis R. Ziegra, MD and Albert W. Ziegra. Sumner (or Tige as he was known to his friends) was born in Deep River, CT on February 13, 1923. He was a graduate of the University of Vermont class of 1944 where he met his wife of 67 years and of Yale University College of Medicine class of 1947 where he recently attended his 65th reunion. The reunion was attended by 10 out of 60 classmates. He continued his medical training at Baltimore City Hospital and Bellevue Hospital in NYC. His medical career was spent in academics as teaching professors and/or Director of Pediatrics at Yale, Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Hahnemann Medical College and Philadelphia General Hospital which was founded by Benjamin Franklin. The last academic position he held was as Chairman of Pediatrics at the Medical College of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. For his final 5 years of his career was as an associate Director in the pharmaceutical industry at Merck. While living in Gladwyne and Malvern PA he gave of his time generously as a Boy Scout leader for 25 years. He retired to Ivoryton, CT where he spent a very pleasurable time redoing the Fountain Hill Cemetery. While there, he brought Fountain Hill into the modern computer age by digitalizing the data of all the interred. His former interns and residents considered him a man of great intelligence generously and eagerly giving of his knowledge and time. He was presented with the "Golden Apple" award by the junior class of '77 at the Medical College of Pennsylvania. The award stated "that the one who was finally chosen as having the highest concentration of pedagogical virtues, of colorful temperament with strong opinion and volatile and voluble emotion, one who feels the woes of the world and considers it his mission to set things right-one who is gentle and patient. To this enthusiastic, dedicated, inspired teacher, and champion of the rights of children, we give this symbol of our recognition of his accomplishments- Dr. Sumner Ziegra". Relatives and friends are invited to attend his funeral service at 1 PM on Sunday, March 17, 2013 at the Fountain Hill Cemetery Chapel, Deep River, CT. Interment will follow in the family lot at Fountain Hill Cemetery. Friends may call Sunday from 11:30 AM – 12:30 PM at the Robinson,Wright & Weymer Funeral Home, 34 Main Street, Centerbrook, CT. Contributions may be given to Operation Smile 6435 Tidewater Dr. Norfolk,VA 23509. To share a memory of Sumner, or to leave a condolence for his family, please visit www.rwwfh.com. Arrangements by the Robinson, Wright & Weymer Funeral Home in Centerbrook.