[SunsetPointWentworth]

Who won World War II. Thank you for saving the world. If you fought on the front lines. Thank You. If you helped save lives in the hospitals. Thank You. If you worked in the factories back home. Thank You. If you sailed in convoys, trying to dodge U-boats. Thank you. The Greatest Generation. Thank You. You're missed Grandfather. Wolfeboro will shine a little less bright.



Bertrand H. Sommer, 87, of Hollis and Wolfeboro, NH, died peacefully Sunday afternoon, December 23, 2012 at St. Joseph Hospital in Nashua, after a brief illness surrounded by his loving family.

A resident of Hollis for the past 45 years, Mr. Sommer was born in Newark, New Jersey on March 31, 1925, a son of the late Arthur Perry and Margaret (Kohler) Sommer. “Bert” was educated in East Orange, NJ, public schools and graduated from Clifford Scott High School Class of 1942 where he was drum major in the school’s band. He then attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY and served with the Merchant Marines as a 3rd Officer from 1943-1945 during World War II.

In 1946, Mr. Sommer began a long career in the automobile business at Whitman Chevrolet in Newark, NJ where he was Vice President and General Manager. He then worked as General Manager at MacMulkin Chevrolet in Nashua from 1967-1969; and as General Manager of the former Clyde Garfield Oldsmobile-Cadillac from 1970-1971 before joining the staff at Tulley Buick-Pontiac-GMC Truck & BMW as Vice President and General Manager and partner from 1971 to 1983.

Very active in community service, Bert served on the New Hampshire Vocational Technical College Committee to Establish Automotive Course; was a Past President of the Nashua New Car and Truck Dealers Association; was a Past President of the New Hampshire Auto Dealers Association and a Past President of the New Hampshire Automotive Education Foundation.

He was a member and Past President of the Nashua Rotary Club and was a Paul Harris Fellow; was a director of the Nashua Chamber of Commerce; was a member of the New Hampshire Vocational Technical College Advisory Board; was a member of the Nashua High School Regional Vocational Center Craft Committee and was a volunteer of the Summer Olympics in Atlanta, GA.

Mr. Sommer also served on the Town of Hollis Capitol Budget Committee; was a member of the Hollis Town Band; the Hollis Dixieland Band and the Amherst Town Band. He held memberships at the Nashua Country Club and the Kingswood Golf Club and received an honorary degree from the New Hampshire Vocational Technical College.

Mr. Sommer enjoyed many hobbies and activities which included playing his drums from the time he was in grammar school, stamp-collecting, reading his daily newspapers, reading at least one book a week, sailing on Lake Wentworth, barbecuing on the 4th of July and Labor Day with the family at the lake.

He loved playing golf and keeping in touch with his Merchant Marine Unit.

He traveled to Wales with the Amherst Town Band and to Bermuda, Spain, Mexico, Hawaii, and France with his wife.

He loved his sports teams, especially the Yankees and Giants. Mr. Sommer made friends wherever he went throughout his life.

His favorite times were spent with family especially with his many grandchildren and he welcomed each great-grandchild with open arms.

He will be remembered as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, and friend and will be missed by everyone who knew him.