Geoffrey Scott Summers died in Chicago on July 23, 2019.  He was just thirty-three years old.

Born in Rockford and raised in Oak Park, he was a proud graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

His day job was as a paralegal.  But if ever there was a man for all seasons, it was Geoff.  His gifts were extraordinary.  Geoff was a magnificent singer and accomplished pianist and composer.  His exceptional ability as a creative writer ran to almost all genres – from prose to poetry to drama to haiku and even to comedy.

But most importantly, Geoff was a guiding star.  Innumerable people sought him out, all seeking his sage advice and wise counsel.  With keen senses of insight and intuition, Geoff always placed troubled hearts at ease.  In the kindest and gentlest of ways, he would draw out issues, talk them through, and point ways forward.  Many of his friends say that Geoff invariably was the first person they would call in their times of need.

Geoff's powerful tenor no longer will lead us in song.  But perhaps – perhaps – his voice lingers, ever so faintly.

Listen for him in the reverie of a sultry summer day.  Or in the gentle rustle of autumn leaves.  Or on a biting breeze coursing through slushy city streets.  Or in the wetlands near his farm, in chorus among springtime's first peepers.

And if you do hear him, perhaps he will be breathing words of comfort and courage – comfort and courage for all of the people who loved him so.

Geoff is survived by his parents, Carol Krohm and Scott Summers; his brother and sister-in-law, Benjamin Summers and Jennifer Villagomez; aunts, uncles, and cousins; and a wide circle of loving and adoring friends. All are staggered by their unspeakable loss.

Burial was in Mount Auburn Cemetery in rural Harvard, Illinois, adjacent to the family's small farm.

Geoff's first home was in the brick house upon the hill.  Now his earthly remains lie in repose mere yards away.

A memorial service will take place on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at the Blue Lotus Buddhist Temple and Meditation Center, 221 Dean Street, Woodstock, IL.  Beginning at 1:00 p.m., the immediate family will greet attendees. The service will commence promptly at 2:00 p.m.  An informal reception on the temple's lower level will follow.