Mathews Spanish classroom is renamed

VIENNA -- School officials paid respects to a former alumnus and his influence beyond the school district at a regular board meeting, renaming one of the high school's classrooms in his honor.

On Wednesday, the Mathews Board of Education approved renaming the Mathews High School Spanish room as the "Senor Summers Memorial Spanish Room."

The resolution read by Superintendent Russell McQuaide explained that John Summers, a 1983 graduate of the high school, began an in-depth study of Spanish through a teacher at the school -- turning the interest into a 33-year career in public education.

Board member Kenneth Wallace, a former classmate and friend of Summers, said Summers taught for those years in the Beachwood School District, dying only a few years after his retirement.

"(He) definitely embodied what we would want students to have as far as taking a foundation here and turning it into something beyond our high school -- particularly in the field of education," Wallace said. "He was very passionate about what he did in Spanish; he travelled the world and passed that enthusiasm onto his students."

McQuaide noted the district had $1,555 in an account from donations towards Spanish classes on Summers' behalf, acknowledging that he must have been a great man -- never knowing him personally.

Wallace recalled a story about Summers and former superintendent James Medved, in which he and a group of kids were on a bus bound for a Cleveland Cavaliers game, and Medved was their chaperone.

"Being the rascal that he was, (Summers) got a little bit of trouble on the way up. Dr Medved insisted that he spent the remainder of that ride and ride home sitting in the front seat with him," Wallace said. "Fast forward to 1988, John's interviewing for a job after having graduated from Kent State -- he's interviewing for a job at Beachwood -- (and) walks in, (the) person interviewing him is Dr. James Medved at Beachwood school."

"He continued to teach there for the remainder of his career, and you know, sometimes being a rascal works out."