In Memoriam: John A. Gummo (1962-2023)
John A. Gummo, a member of the Lycoming Law Association since 1992, died on May 1, 2023. His memorial session of court took place on August 29, 2023.
Obituary
John Andrew Gummo passed away on May 1, 2023. The world lost a joyful, positively energized man.
John was born on July 18, 1962, in Doylestown, Bucks County, PA, the son of John A. and Joyce A. Gummo.
In his early years, his family moved to Laurel Run Farm in Clinton County from the Danville/Riverside area. John attended high school at both Bald Eagle Nittany and Lock Haven High School where he was class president, played football and was involved in ski club, choir, and service clubs.
John received his Bachelor of Arts in History at Lycoming College in 1985 where he enjoyed playing football and being involved in the fraternity of Kappa Delta Rho. He also enjoyed sharing stories of working on the landscaping crew and the trip to Villanova for the National Championship. He studied a semester abroad in 1984 and had an internship in the British Parliament. John furthered his education at Ohio Northern University, where he obtained his Juris Doctorate Degree. John’s purpose of his degree was to positively impact people's lives and help them during difficult times. John was an attorney in Williamsport for over 30 years. He was a member of the Pennsylvania Bar and Lycoming Law Association.
John married Cassandra Hoyt on November 5, 1994. He and Cass had a loving relationship and were each other’s best friend. John’s greatest joy in life were their children. Marissa Lynn and husband Tyler, Andrew John, and Matthew Allan. Also, John dearly loved his three grandchildren Carly, Kayson, and Kylan.
In addition to his wife, children, and grandchildren, he is survived by his sister Jill Ann Gummo and her sons Joseph and John. He was predeceased by his brother Jeffery Allan Gummo who is survived by wife Michelle and daughters Courtney (Garrett Bogden) and Lauren (Jeff Brubaker).
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his in-laws Sandra and J. Ralph Hoyt Jr. His sister and brother-in-law Lori and J. Ralph Hoyt III, his niece and nephew Erica and Craig Hoyt, and their two children Logan and Evan. Marissa’s mother and step-father Sheri and William Ruffing as well as their daughter McKenzie (Cameron Ott) who he considered one of the family.
John attended Zion Lutheran Church in Turbotville, PA and most recently Calvary Chapel in Sarasota, FL.
John enjoyed coaching youth football and baseball as well as hosting and arranging events for both his family and his children’s sports teams including team meals. He always welcomed friends and teammates of his children to stay, grab a bite to eat, and provided advice for whatever they were facing. John provided positive energy and happiness no matter the occasion and was the life of many events.
John, also known as "Johnny G" by his friends, loved each of them dearly. He loved hosting gatherings at the house in Watsontown for events that were organized weeks in advance or just spur of the moment, where everyone was always welcome. His friends have always been very important to him and his family.
John was kind, loving, fun and generous. He was a great husband, son, father, brother, uncle, "Pop", and friend. He loved his family more than anything and always put them before anything else.
John enjoyed and valued each day and never took life for granted. He built and maintained countless connections through living and loving big. John is loved by many, where he and his influence will be remembered forever. As John or "Johnny G" would say, "You know I love you guys", and that remains true for each of the people in his and his family’s life.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in John’s memory to Montour Preserve at https://montourpreserve.org/donate/ or the Florida Wildlife Federation at https://floridawildlifefederation.org/donate/. John enjoyed spending time at Montour Preserve and also loved spending his time in Florida. One of his greatest beliefs was to ensure Earth was a better place for future generations.
Memorial Resolutions:
IN THE COURT OF COMMON PLEAS OF LYCOMING COUNTY, PENNSYLVANIA
In Re: LLA Bar History :
MEMORIAL RESOLUTION : CV-23-00004
JOHN A. GUMMO :
TO THE HONORABLE JUDGES OF SAID COURT:
On the 15th day of May, 2023, the Honorable Nancy L. Butts, President Judge of the 29th Judicial District of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, appointed the undersigned Committee to prepare a Report and Resolutions memorializing the life of John A. Gummo for submission to the Court at a public ceremony on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 at 4:00pm.
Accordingly, your Committee respectfully submits the following Report and Resolutions:
- John A. Gummo, a member of this bar and court from 1991 to 2023, as well as a member of the Lycoming Law Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Association, died at Evangelical Hospital in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania on Monday, May 1, 2023.
- Services were held on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 11am at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Turbotville, Pennsylvania, where he attended church. The church was very well attended by his many friends, colleagues and relatives including several Lycoming County Judges and numerous Lycoming County Bar members.
- John Andrew Gummo, the oldest son of John A. Gummo and Joyce A. Gummo, was born on July 18, 1962, in Doylestown, Pennsylvania. When John was a child his family moved to the Danville/Riverside area and then to Laurel Run Farm in Clinton County where most of his childhood and youth was spent. As an adult he lived in South Williamsport before moving to Delaware Township, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania where he lived until his death.
- John married Cassandra Hoyt on November 5, 1994, with whom he celebrated twenty-eight years of marriage. John had three children: Marissa Lynn, Andrew John and Matthew Allan.
- John is also survived by three grandchildren, Carly, Kayson and Kylan and their father, John’s son-in-law, Tyler; his parents, John and Joyce Gummo of Beech Creek; his sister, Jill A. Gummo of Pittsburgh and her sons Joseph and John; and his sister-in-law Michelle and her daughters Courtney and Lauren. John was predeceased by his younger brother Jeffrey A. Gummo.
- Additionally, John is survived by his in-laws, Sandra and J. Ralph Hoyt Jr.; his sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Lori and J. Ralph Hoyt III, his nephew and his nephew’s wife, Craig and Erica Hoyt, and their two children, Logan and Evan; Marissa’s mother and step-father, Sheri and William Ruffing as well as their daughter, McKenzie, who John considered one of his family.
- John attended high school initially at Bald Eagle Nittany and then graduated in 1981 from Lock Haven High School. In high school he served as class president, played football and was involved in ski club, choir and service clubs. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in History from Lycoming College in 1985 and while there played football and was a member of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity, worked on the landscaping crew and spent a semester abroad in 1984 where he had an internship with the British Parliament. He then attended Ohio Northern University School of Law where he graduated in 1988.
- John was admitted to the Bar of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court in 1991, and later the Lycoming County Bar in 1992 as well as to the Bar of the United States Supreme Court, Third Circuit, in 1999 and to the United States Sentencing Commission in 1995.
- John began his law career in Lycoming County as an associate with Attorney David C. Raker. He and David Raker later formed the partnership of Raker and Gummo at 322 Court Street in Williamsport. Over the course of his time there, he shared offices with David Raker, Ralph “Pat” Thorne and Eric Linhardt.
- John began an association with Eric Linhardt in 1995 where together they maintained a law office at 25 West Third Street until Eric Linhardt became Lycoming County District Attorney in 2008. John’s work was concentrated in family and criminal law, and he was a municipal solicitor as well, including for Brady Township for many years. John served his clients well. He was particularly adept at resolving difficulties and negotiating solutions which benefitted all involved.
- John coached youth football and baseball as well as hosted and arranged events for both his family and his children’s sports teams, including team meals. John will always be remembered as a giving and gracious man who thoroughly enjoyed time with friends, family and colleagues. He had a great love of history and trains, a passion he shared with his father, and he enjoyed visiting historic sites.
- John will be remembered for his kind, loving, fun and generous spirit, his welcoming nature, positive energy and his ability to impact people’s lives and help them during difficult times.
Your Committee recommends the adoption of the following Resolutions:
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that we, the undersigned Committee appointed by this Court, joined in by the Lycoming County Bar, do hereby recognize the passing of John A. Gummo, Esquire, and in his death we remember his many contributions to the citizens of Lycoming County and to this Bar.
RESOLVED FURTHER that these Resolutions and statements be spread at length, upon the Minutes of Your Honorable Court with copies sent to John A. Gummo’s widow, children and parents and be published in the Lycoming Reporter.
RESOLVED FINALLY that this Court and the Lycoming Bar extend to John A. Gummo’s widow, children, grandchildren and parents, and other family members, our deep heartfelt expression of sympathy and prayers.
Respectfully submitted,
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David C. Raker, Chairman
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Honorable Dudley Anderson
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Honorable Eric R. Linhardt
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Bret Southard, Esquire
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Gary Weber, Esquire
