He was an iconic Boston radio personality known for the overnight show Nightlight on WBZ-AM 1030. He also worked in New York at major AM and FM radio stations. Now, many are paying their respects to Dick Summer, who has died of pneumonia at the age of 89.
WBZ announced Summer’s passing on May 14, highlighting his influential career during the 1960s and 1970s.
Born in Brooklyn in 1935, Summer was inspired at a young age by on-air personalities like WNEW-AM in New York’s William B. Williams; he’d later work at WNEW-FM under Metromedia ownership, as a morning host when it first embraced a progressive Album-Oriented Rock approach.
Summer’s first professional job was at the former WNRC in New Rochelle, N.Y., followed by stints at WROW-AM 590 in Albany, N.Y. He also worked in TV in the Capital District, at WTEN-10.
In early 1957, Summer joined WNHC-AM in New Haven, meeting future WABC icon Dan Ingram. He soon moved to WIBC in Indianapolis, where he hosted the show Summertime.
One night, he picked up WBZ’s booming signal from Boston. This inspired him to apply to the big AM station. He did this repeatedly for one year until Program Director Al Heacock gave him a shot at overnights.
Known for his poetic recitations and humor, Nightlight was known for its unique benchmarks like “Nightlight Password.” Summer also tackled serious issues with his segment “Nightlighters Against Gutlessness,” which condemned people who ignored crimes and urged listeners to carry a dime at all times in case they needed to call in and report a crime.
After leaving WBZ, Summer briefly worked at WNEW before returning to Boston’s WMEX in 1969 as PD, where he created the show Lovin Touch. Summer returned to WBZ in 1971 and later worked at WPLJ-FM, WNBC-AM, and WYNY-FM in New York.
In addition to his radio career, Summer was known for his TV and radio commercial voiceover work. He also hosted the podcast Good Night later in his life and was inducted into the Massachusetts Broadcasters Hall of Fame in 2018.
Radio + Television Business Report President and Publisher Deborah Parenti said, “He had a distinctive style and voice and an incredible way of weaving a story and bringing it to life. As a grade school girl in Dayton, I would set the transistor radio ‘just so’ in the bedroom window that so I could listen to Dick Summer on WBZ in Boston. Years later I was fortunate to get to know and become friends with him and his wife, Barbara. Radio has lost a wonderful talent.”
A celebration of life is planned for May 16 from Noon-4pm at michaelsharborside.com
