JOSHUA SUMPTER, PhD

Oct. 22, 1992-May 1, 2026

Erica squeezed his hand tight, told Joshua she loved him, kissed him goodnight and headed home with the full expectation that she would see the love of her life the next morning. Joshua, resting comfortably, passed minutes later.

Though it wasn’t expected, not by the doctors, not by his loved ones, Joshua decided that it was time for him to go, on his own terms, comforted that everyone he was leaving behind was safe and would be OK.

Joshua Clark Sumpter died of cancer in the early morning hours of May 1, having lived as much of a full life as someone 33 years old can live. A native of Cloverdale, he attended Healdsburg city schools and graduated from Healdsburg High in 2010, earning admission into UC Davis where he would receive his bachelor’s, master’s and PhD degrees in mathematics. He was a teaching assistant at UC Davis before later moving on to the University of Rochester where Professor Sumpter taught calculus as well as other advanced math classes.

While Josh was brilliant from an academic standpoint, that was just a small part of who he was and hardly the biggest part. Always curious and eager as a youngster, Joshua learned many skills from his peers, namely his grandpa Richard “Dick” Williams and his mom Shawn. As a teenager and young adult, he worked construction during the summer. A handyman deluxe, he enjoyed building things and fixing them. He was a problem solver, small and big, and was a constant help to his computer-challenged dad Brian. And boy, could that kid cook, something he learned from his mom Shawn and grandmas Nellie Rochioli Sumpter and Yvonne Williams.

Josh made friends and memories everywhere he went – in his neighborhood in Cloverdale, at Healdsburg city schools, on the golf courses at Tayman Park and Adams Springs, at the UC Davis math department, and especially at Freeborn Hall where he loved the time he spent with all of his co-workers, and at the University of Rochester.

It was at UC Davis that Joshua met his future wife, Erica (Oberg) Sumpter, who was with Josh from the day he was diagnosed in 2014 until the very end. They were the best of friends and went on to marry in November of 2020. They were at each other’s side constantly, inseparable, and embarked on many adventures together, both in Davis, California, and in Brighton, New York, a suburb of Rochester.

Josh’s battle with cancer was long and hard on him at times. He underwent several surgeries, chemotherapy and rounds of radiation. His doctors, especially Dr. Jennie Taylor and Dr. Nimish Mohile, did everything they could for him and more while he fought this terrible disease. Josh lived longer than medical science projected, a testament to his own strength of will.

An avid golfer, Josh played for his high school team and competed on Lake County’s amateur circuit for a handful of years, winning the Lake County Junior once. He loved to bowl and made good use of the UC Davis bowling lanes when he wasn’t studying or working.

Later in life, he and wife Erica enjoyed their many coffee dates, hiking, camping and exploring the many parks and waterfalls that were near their home on the East Coast. Josh loved spoiling their cats Cream and Finn.

When Josh decided he had had enough of this life, he was greeted on the other side by sister Sarah Sumpter, uncle Dave Sumpter, grandmas Yvonne Williams and Nellie Rochioli Sumpter, grandpas Richard “Dick” Willams and Charles Sumpter, too many other relatives to mention, and many friends, including John Berry, who is probably playing a round of golf with Josh right now.

The relatives and friends Josh leaves behind now have a hole in their hearts that will never fully heal. Wife Erica, mom Shawn, dad Brian and uncle Gary will miss that smiling face and indomitable personality as will many of his best friends, including one of his favorite people on the planet, Mandy Feder Sawyer.

A much-loved son-in-law, Josh was beloved by Erica’s family; John Oberg, Cyndi Oberg, Allison, Ryleigh and Wyatt Nelson, Chad Oberg, and Tom and Dorie Zwinger.

Josh’s memorial service will be held Saturday, May 16 beginning at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Cloverdale. A celebration of life immediately follows at the adjoining hall. We hope you can attend, but even if you can’t, we ask that you remember how Josh lived and not how he died. Keep his memory alive with warm thoughts, smiles and laughs.

In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to the American Cancer Society Boston Hope Lodge where Josh and Erica stayed while he received treatment in 2023. Click on the link to donate: https://raiseyourway.donordrive.com/pages/1213 and click on the “Donate” button. Please add a message noting that your donation is in memory of Joshua Sumpter.