South Burlington, VT - Austin John Sumner was born in 1938 in the small town of Hokitika (Maori for "to return directly") on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. He completed a medical degree and a Master of Medical Science with first class honors at the University of New Zealand in Dunedin. He was a houseman in Medicine at Wellington and Hutt Hospitals, where he met his wife, Jane. They were married in 1966 - a union lasting 59 years.

In 1968, Austin and Jane moved to London for neurology training at the National Hospital for Nervous Diseases, Queen Square. Their daughter Charlotte was born in 1969. In 1971, Austin joined the neurology faculty at the University of California San Francisco. Austin and Jane's son, Austin, was born in 1972. He encouraged both of his children to pursue medicine, which they did, Charlotte also becoming a Neuromuscular Neurologist and Austin becoming an Occupational Medicine Specialist.

In 1974, Austin followed his mentor, Professor Arthur Asbury to Philadelphia. During his 14 years at the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his most significant research in peripheral nerve and neurophysiology and includes two conditions that bear his name: the Lewis-Sumner Syndrome and the Gilliatt-Sumner Hand. A sabbatical leave in 1980-81 in Paris allowed him to work on Guillain Barré Syndrome with Professor Gérard Saide.

In 1988, he moved his family to the "Big Easy" after accepting the position of Department Chair of Neurology at the Louisiana State University Health in New Orleans. He formally retired in 2014. He trained countless students, residents and fellows and treated hundreds of patients. He was revered for his clinical and electrodiagnostic skills and depended upon for his leadership. He was proud of his roles in the collaboration of People's Health Network and LSU Health. He was a founding member of the Peripheral Nerve Society, served as President of the American Association of Electrodiagnostic Medicine, and chaired the Brain Foundation of the American Academy of Neurology for 6 years

Austin was a man of many hobbies, all of which he studied assiduously. Most longstanding was breeding and racing pigeons, which he began in childhood. The second was dog field trials with his Gordon and English setters. He was an inveterate collector and was scholarly in his approach. Collections included military horse saddles, English antique silver, antique furniture, oriental rugs, chronometers, Japanese Samurai swords, shotguns, fine wines, cars, and horology. Austin and Jane were students of history and loved traveling the world. Together, they also delighted in hosting friends and colleagues at dinners and parties at their home.

Austin died soon after his 87th birthday on August 30, 2025, of bladder cancer in Burlington Vermont, the place that most reminded him of his native New Zealand, where he will "return directly" to his final place of rest. He is survived by his wife Jane, who made his rich life possible, his two children Austin and Charlotte, his four beloved grandchildren: Isabel (22), Lissy (20), Katie (17), and Austin Raj (14) and two wonderful daughters-in-law, Amita and Jennifer. In his final days, he enjoyed the company of his family, and watching the sunset over Lake Champlain amongst the pine trees and the mountains in the distance, as he had done so often before. "Pops" will be deeply missed.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ready Funeral and Cremation Services. To send online condolences please visit www.cremationsocietycc.com