Richard Howe Cummings

Richard Howe Cummings was born November 20, 1921 in Springfield, MA. His parents were Charles Henry and Gladys Maria (nee Howe) Cummings. Richard was 98 years of age. Richard died September 20, 2020 at Henry Ford Hospital West Bloomfield surrounded by the love of his family.

Richard graduated in 1943 at Amherst College, he received a BA in Economics, though leaving in the Fall of 1942 for the US Army Air Corps. As an Aviation Cadet, he attended MIT in meteorology; he was commissioned in September 1943; and, shortly thereafter until discharged as a Captain in September 1946, was stationed at the Pentagon's Headquarters, Army Air Corps. Spending his terminal leave with his family in West Bolyston, MA, he met his first wife, Cynthia Holt, an Army Nurse earlier discharged after 31 months overseas. They married the following May between his first and second years at the Harvard Business School where he earned his MBA.

Recruited on the HBS campus by the National Bank of Detroit, they resided in the Birmingham/Bloomfield area until her death in February 2008. Starting as a Credit Analyst at NBD, he moved progressively through and eventually headed all commercial lending arras of the bank; including the development of its international role. Dick retired on December 1, 1986 as Senior Vice Chairman of NBD, as well as, of its parent, NBD Bancorp.

During his banking career, he served on a number of important banking industry committees, as a Director of various corporate boards and was active in several local non-profit organizations, including Lawrence Technological University. Gradually retiring from all, Dick concentrated his energies to assisting his late wife with her company (Holt Peterson Press) which self-published eleven illustrated hardcover books of her Christmas poetry.

While playing bridge at The Village Club after his wife's death, Dick met a widow, Carol Wiseman. They married in 2013, sold their respective two-story condos and bought a ranch in Village Pines. Dick was a longtime member of Bloomfield Hills Country Club, Birmingham Country Club, the Village Club, and the Detroit Athletic Club.

Beloved husband of Carol Ann Cummings and the late Cynthia Holt Cummings. Loving father of Roger Holt Cummings (Buff) and step-daughters; Mary Katherine "Kit" MacNee and Jennifer Ann Oseth (Todd). Grandfather of David Michael Cummings (Michelle), Julia Cummings Dick (Casey), Jessica Cummings Halfnight (Ashlin) and Amanda Cummings Spiritos (Zachary). Great-grandfather of Andrew, Caroline & Cole Cummings, Emily, William & Sarah Dick, Kai, Theodore & Cody Halfnight and Lucas Spiritos. Brother of the late Waldo Beaman Cummings and Elizabeth Marie Cummings. Uncle of Waldo Beaman Cummings, Jr. (Pam) and the late Warren Bradford Cummings. The family is grateful for the loving care of Henry Ford Hospital/Hospice.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. A graveside service will be held on Saturday, October 10th at 1:00pm at Mount Vernon Cemetery, West Boylston. Local arrangements are in the care of the Fay Brothers Life Celebration Home, 1 West Boylston St., West Boylston.

Memorial tributes to the "Richard Cummings Student Emergency Fund" c/o Brande Oliver, Lawrence Technological University, 21000 W. Ten Mile Rd., Southfield, MI 48075 or the Cornerstone Education Group, 306 E. Fourth St., Royal Oak, MI 48067.