John N. Sumi, 94

John Nasira Sumi of Redondo Beach, Calif., died at Torrance Memorial Hospital in Torrance, Calif., on Dec. 18. He was 94 and had been in failing health for two months.

He met Angele Mahmouzian of Marseille, France, aboard the S.S. Constitution, which brought them both to the U.S. in 1959. They married on Aug. 29, 1959, living at first in Manhattan and then moving to East Hampton, where Mrs. Sumi’s brothers already had homes, in 1971 to raise their two sons. Mrs. Sumi survives.

He was born on Jan. 10, 1922, in Damascus, Syria, to the former Nazir Shankour and Abdul Jalil Sumi. He grew up in Damascus and went to high school there.

Here, Mr. Sumi had his own dental lab and also worked as a contractor, building houses. Mrs. Sumi was a housewife. In 1989, after their sons had graduated from college and moved to California, Mr. and Mrs. Sumi followed them there. Michel Sumi of Torrance said that the family still owns land here in East Hampton.

The family said that Mr. Sumi enjoyed playing with his grandchildren, traveling, gardening, and backgammon.

In addition to his wife and son Michel, another son, Roland Sumi of Redondo Beach, Calif., survives, as do three grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral Mass was said on Dec. 22 at Green Hills Memorial Park Chapel in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., followed by burial in the cemetery there.