SALEM- Prominent Salem Attorney Sumner Low Raymond died in Danvers Wednesday morning, January 16, 2002 at Harborside Cedar Glen Nursing Home. Born in Essex, Massachusetts, he was the third of seven children born to Frank and Louise (Low) Raymond. The family moved to Ipswich when Mr. Raymond was a young child and in 1930 moved to Salem after his father had been elected Sheriff of Essex County. Mr. Raymond had long-standing roots in Essex and was a direct descendant of the Reverend John Wise and of John Proctor, one of the accused Salem witches who was executed on Gallows Hill in Salem in 1692. Sumner's grandfather, Benjamin Franklin Raymond operated B.F. Raymond's Drugstore and a real estate office on the corner of Main and Martin Streets in Essex for many years. The family homestead still stands adjacent to that building and housed Mr. Raymond's Essex office.
Mr. Raymond was graduated from Manning High School in Ipswich, Class of 1930; Bates College, Class of 1934; and Harvard University Law School in 1937. He married Miriam Freda Billauer in 1941 and thereafter the couple resided at 399 Lafayette Street in Salem for over 50 years. Mrs. Raymond died on April 28, 1997. The Raymonds had seven children, all of whom attended Salem public schools and were graduated from various New England Colleges.
Mr. Raymond was a familiar figure on the North Shore and was well known among his colleagues for his extensive knowledge of Probate Law. Many members of the legal community also remember Sumner's trademark bow tie and his famous daily shortcut from his Masonic Temple office to the Salem Probate Court, which required him to scale the picketed wrought iron fence of the Tabernacle Church. From his offices in Salem and Essex, he practiced law for over 57 years and was almost forced to retire in 1982 when the Masonic Temple was badly damaged by fire. Undaunted, Mr. Raymond moved his office temporarily to Essex Street and was the first tenant to return to the refurbished Masonic Temple in 1983. His law practice is being carried on by his longtime associate, Attorney Dana P. Jordan.
Mr. Raymond credited his stamina to a half mile 5:30 a.m. daily swim at the Salem YMCA and nightly walks from his home into neighboring Marblehead. He led his family and friends on several successful ascents of Mount Washington and never had trouble rounding up a crew to join him aboard his sailboat "Susie" which was moored at the Corinthian Yacht Club of which he was a member for over 25 years. Mr. Raymond was a former President of Salem YMCA and was the driving force behind the creation of the Y's original Christian Lanz pool. In 1978, he was recognized by the Salem YMCA for his many years of volunteer efforts.
Mr. Raymond served as Town Counsel for the Towns of Topsfield and Essex for many years and was an active member of Tabernacle Congregational Church, Fraternity Lodge, IOOF, #118; Starr King Lodge, A.F. & A.M.; Washington Chapter, Royal Arch Masons; Scottish Rite Bodies, Valley of Salem; and Aleppo Temple, A.A.O.N.M.S.. He was also one of the proprietors of the Salem Athenaeum and a member of the Ipswich Historical Society, Appalachian Mountain Club, Mt. Washington Observatory, and the Essex County, Massachusetts and American Bar Associations.
He is survived by his children: Ruth Kapnis and husband John and Susan Gailis and husband Peter, all of Salem; Barbara von Mayrhauser and husband Stanford of Princeton, NJ; Robert Raymond and wife Sharon of Shutesbury, MA; Patricia Pickard and husband Jack of Torrington, CT; Linda Siegel and husband Irving of Glendale, WI; and James Raymond and wife Mary of Scotia, NY. He also leaves 23 grandchildren: Laurie Andonian, Lisa Diminture, Scott Webster, Michael, Thomas, Stephen and John Kapnis, Cynthia Saulnier, Patricia Hartnett, Beth Livermore and Linda Spanos; Kathryn and Christopher Malloy; Christina and Andrew von Mayrhauser; Sojee Raymond; Sarah Webb, John, Robert and Douglas Pickard; David Waxman; and Lianne and Matthew Raymond. In addition, he leaves 19 great grandchildren. He is survived by his brother Roger Raymond of Kittery, Maine and sisters Pauline Hurder of Salem and Althine Marsh of East Orleans. He is the brother of the late Frank E. Raymond, Jr., Lelia Ferguson and Alice Abel.
His funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 19, 2002 at 10 am in the Tabernacle Congregational Church, UCC, corner of Washington and Federal Streets, Salem. Relatives and friends respectfully invited. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery, Salem. Visiting hours are Friday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 pm at the Full-Spychalski Funeral Home, 84 Washington Square East, by Salem Common, Salem. Donations may be made in his memory to the Salem Hospital Stroke Club, c/o the Development Office, 81 Highland Ave., Salem, MA 01970 or to the Salem YMCA, 288 Essex St., Salem, MA 01970. For guest book and directions, visit www.salemfuneral.com.