Obituary
Roland Thomas Summers also known as "Lefty", "Sonny", and "Baltimore" was born on July 6, 1932 in Baltimore, Maryland to the late Jake Wells and Evelyn Bowens. However Roland was raised in Philadelphia PA. While in Philadelphia he attended Overlea high School then later attended North Carolina A∓T. His high school and collegiate careers led him to befriending the likes of the late Wilt Chamberland, Satchel Page, and the legendary coach Don Chaney. During his rise to sports superstardom he met Marie Allen of whom he had his first children Roland and Elaine Summer. Roland continued to climb the ranks of baseball as a Pitcher until he was beaned by a fastball by the late Herb Score which ended his professional career with the Rosetown Phillies in 1954 at the age of 22. With his baseball career derailed he decided to migrate back to Baltimore and took up residence with his late sister Joan Bowens where he met his future wife, the late Virgie Jean Bly.
Sonny and Jean, his new love were wed on July 2, 1963 in Asbury Park NJ. Sickness fell on the Bly family at 1625 Laurens St., Roland and Virgie decided to return to Baltimore to lend stability to the household. With the Death of Mr. Solomon Bly, Roland became the head of the household and maintained that position from 1963 until his calling home by God on Thursday October 2, 2014. Roland performed his duties as the "man of the house" with extreme pride, protection, provision and paternal fortitude. Life was not easy but he never wavered in his commitment to be the prototypical Husband, father and man of the home.
During his time he worked for several companies in the Baltimore area. Pimlico Race Course, AJ Billig Co, Roadway, as a contractor building the Baltimore subway system and most recently Marcor removing Asbestos from Baltimore City Public Schools. During this time he was father to Carl Richard Bly, Regina Ann Bly (Brooks), and the late Steven Anthony Summers. Many of the local youth in the neighborhood considered him their father figure as well. He made it a priority to make sure that each of those children was represented by a strong male figure in all aspects of their lives. The Absent Black Male was a myth in the Summers household.
Every person, young and old knew of Mr. Sonny. His penchants for sitting on the steps of his, dressed to perfection in his handpicked suits and hats were a fixture in the neighborhood. He was generous to those who approached him with good intentions and never failed to offer the help of fatherly advice, monetary assistance or whatever was needed for that individual.
However, his greatest love outside his family was sports. Since he was involved in baseball throughout his earlier years, he carried that same passion up through his departure from this world. He taught his son Richard how to play the game of baseball; he mentored every team that his sons played on. He attended baseball games of his son in Connecticut and he eventually was coach of a summer softball baseball team that won the championship in Druid Hill Park. His affiliation with the Baltimore orioles were rooted in his minor league baseball days where he grew alliances with Willie Kirkland and Sam Bowens, who both played for the Orioles in the early 1960's and were frequent visitors to the Summers home on Laurens street. He often held long conversations with his son, Richard on the nuances of baseball and was looking forward to the playoffs of the current orioles. His insightfulness into the art of baseball will be missed for he was proficient in understanding the game within the game.
As time progressed and the kids became adults, Lefty decided to use his talents as a connoisseur of music to become a local bar DJ. He created the group of "Lefty and Sons" that comprised Richard, Steven and Lefty. For years he brought the soulful sounds of the 1920's thru 1970's to local nightspots with his cool demeanor to entertain the audience with his whitty catch phrases and bantor his grandson later named Granddadisims. He enjoyed the attention that came with being a DJ and the joy that it brought to the faces and souls of people who longed to reminisce on the past. He was at his absolute best when he performed his version of Rudy Ray Moore's classic jokes like The Signifying Monkey and The Pool Shootin Baboon.
After several battles with prostrate, lung and throat cancer, survival over three open heart procedures, The Father Almighty gently and lovingly received Roland "Lefty", Sonny", "Baltimore", Summers about 6:30am on Thursday October 2, 2014 leaving to mourn, his Son and Daughter in Philadelphia, Roland(Brenda) and Elaine Summers, a brother in Willingborough, New Jersey, Buster Bowens; in Maryland, a son Carl Richard Bly(Linda) and daughter Regina Ann (Bly) Brooks(Reginald),15 grandchildren, 29 great grandchildren, and 6 great, great grandchildren, loving nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives and friends. The mother of his children in Philadelphia Marie Allen, wife Virgie Jean Bly Summers, sister Joan Bowens, son Steven Anthony Summers and sister-in-law Ellen Bowens all preceded him in death.