Richard K. Summers

A celebration of life for Richard Summers will be held from 11 to 3:30 PM on Saturday, June 26, at the Summers Residence, 23 Church Street, Upton.

Richard K. Summers, a lifelong resident of Upton, passed away peacefully on February 4th, 2021. He was surrounded by his wife, mother, sister and the doctors and nurses at St. Vincent's Hospital ... the very same hospital where he was born on June 26, 1962. He is the son of the late George J. Summers, and is survived by his mother, Margaret A. (Kneeland) Summers. He is survived by his wife Nathalie Carignan Summers, a daughter Sheridan Colleen, and a grandson, Javian Parker Summers. He is also survived by his siblings ... George Jr. of Somerville, Mary Summers Cortese and her husband Joe of Upton and Kathleen Summers Grice and her husband Roy, of Cumberland, ME. He is predeceased in this life by his paternal grandparents William and Mary Ellen Summers, his maternal grandparents James and Anne Kneeland, his Godparents Cecelia Grynsel and James Kneeland, and Candice Blackmore.

Educated in the local school system, "Rick”; as he was known around town, attended Blackstone Valley Regional Technical High School. He later graduated from Nipmuc Regional High School in 1980. He also attended the Duke Southard School of Racing in Atlanta, Georgia in 1979.

Like his celebrated dad ... after graduating from high school, Rick joined the family pastime of auto racing. He competed in the Street Stocks, Mini Mods, and the Modified Divisions at various racetracks around New England, including those at

Seekonk, Westboro, Riverside Park, Stafford Springs, and Thompson in 1986

Rick was the NASCAR Rookie of the Year in the SK Division at Stafford Springs Motor Speedway. Rick was the NASCAR track champion on the Pro-4 Modifieds Circuit in 1998.

Rick has been employed in the family trucking business for the past thirty two years. He took immense pride in driving a truck that bore the name of his dad "George J. Summers Trucking ''.  An avid motorcycle enthusiast, Rick could often be found in Daytona Beach, FL during Bike Week in March or up in Laconia, NH for Motorcycle Week in June.

For the past seventeen years, Rick has been a "Friend of Bill "and has lived by Bill's creed: "One day at a time." 2-4 brother!!

His funeral Mass will be celebrated at 10 A.M. on Saturday, February 13, in St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish “on the farm” 151 Mendon St., Upton.  Burial will follow in Lakeview Cemetery. 

Calling hours are from 4 to 8 P.M. on Friday, February 12, in St. Gabriel the Archangel Parish.

Facial coverings and social distancing will be required for all services.  Seating capacity for the funeral Mass will be limited, once that limit has been reached the funeral Mass can be viewed as a live feed at St. Gabriel’s Facebook page www.facebook.com/StGabrielMendonUpton/

Memorial donations may be sent to: New Beginnings (AA) – TSDD, c/o William Phillips, P.O. Box 3581, Framingham, MA 01701, St. Gabriel the Archangel Building Fund, 151 Mendon St. Upton, MA 01568, or to the Upton Fire & Ems Association Ambulance Fund, P.O. Box 1012, Upton, MA 01568.