Obituary of Sumner Burton Sochrin

Sumner Burton Sochrin, formerly of Milford and Seymour, Connecticut, USA and most recently from Shelton, Connecticut, USA passed away peacefully at home on May 31, 2022.  He was a part time resident of Sint Maarten in the Dutch Caribbean.  Mr. Sochrin was 88 years of age.

Sumner was predeceased by his wife of more than 56 years, Linda Karen Diamond Sochrin,.  He is survived by his son, Jeffrey Ward Sochrin, of Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten in the Dutch Caribbean, his brother and sister-in-law, Gary and Phyllis Sochrin of Orange, Connecticut, his niece, Aimee Higgins and her husband, Justin Higgins of Orange, Connecticut, his niece Sheri Sochrin of Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, and his great-niece, Sarah Charlotte Higgins of Orange, Connecticut, in addition to his cat, Wendel and several grand-dogs and cats.

Sumner was born in Derby, Connecticut on February 27, 1934, to Benjamin and Sarah Sochrin (Hodos) of Seymour, Connecticut.  He graduated from Seymour High School in 1951 and attended Admiral Farragut Academy in Tom's River, New Jersey.  He was a graduate of the Georgia Institute of Technology with a Bachelors of Science degree in Industrial Management and graduated from the University of Bridgeport with a Masters of Science degree in Secondary Education.  Mr. Sochrin served in the United States Army and earned the rank of Staff Sergeant.   While in the army, he was stationed in Germany and traveled across the Atlantic on the same ship as the late Elvis Presley.

Upon completion of his service to the United States of America, Sumner returned to Connecticut where he played semi-professional baseball and served as a Teacher of Mathematics at Central High School in Bridgeport, Connecticut, for 33 years.   At the same time, he began a coaching career that spanned more than 50 years at Seymour High School, Bridgeport Central High School, Yale University, Jonathan Law High School (Milford) and Derby High School.  He was the first and only High School Baseball Coach to win a Baseball State Championship for the City of Bridgeport in 1978.  With more than 500 career wins, Sumner Sochrin was named Coach of the Year by numerous state and regional organizations over five decades.  He was inspirational to his students and his athletes, even after his retirement from Coaching in 2014.

Mr. Sochrin was a philanthropist who often quietly and anonymously assisted those less fortunate, especially athletes who loved the game of baseball.  During his winter sojourns to the island of Sint Maarten, Coach Sochrin often worked with young athletes in the Players Development League, with assistance on the ball field and in the classroom.

Friends are invited to join Coach Sochrin's family for the funeral service and burial at Beth Israel Cemetery on 855 Derby/Milford Road in Orange, Connecticut. on Tuesday, June 7, 2022 at 11 AM.    A Private Period of Mourning will be observed by the family.

Memorial Contributions in the name of Sumner Burton Sochrin may be directed to the charity of the donor's choice.  The Family would appreciate support of the St. Maarten Animal Welfare Foundation for those that feel so inclined at paypal.me/TeamGoldendog.   For travel directions or to sign his online guest register, please visit www.LeskoPolkeFuneralHome.com.