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Simmons was born Nov. 19, 1921, to Celia Kane and Joseph Simmons. He graduated from Central High School in 1938. He worked for his father's business at New York Auto, the Clover Dairy, and later sold shoes for Thom McCan. He attended the University of Bridgeport, which was then the Connecticut Junior College for two years before the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted in the United States Navy Dec. 8, 1941 and reported for military service the day after the Fourth of July in 1942. He attended Officer Training School in Cambridge, Mass., and returned to Navy Service as a lieutenant J.G.
Starting in 1952, he began a career with R.H. Donnelley, publishers of the Yellow Pages. After moving back to Fairfield in 1966 and transferring to New York, he rose through the ranks from salesman to district sales manager to general sales manager of the Manhattan Yellow pages. He retired from Donnelley's in 1986 and then became a vice president for Kaiser Publications in Scarsdale, which published a set of regional set of Yellow Pages. He was a long time member of the Honorable Menschen at the Bridgeport Jewish Community Center, he served as president of the Odd Fellow's Loyalty Lodge Cemetery Association for more than 10 years. He worked as a volunteer with the Jewish Family Services of Southern Connecticut.
Simmons is survived by his wife, Lia of Fairfield; son, Luiz Simmons, an attorney in Silver Spring, Md.; daughter-in-law, Claire; daughter, Jaynie Simmons-Taylor (Scott); two grandchildren; a great-granddaughter; brother, Richard Simmons of Sewickley, Pa.; sister, Rhoda Mazur of Monroe; and many cousins; and nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, March 9 at Abraham L. Green & Son Funeral Home, 88 Beach Road, Fairfield. Interment will follow immediately at the Loyalty Lodge Cemetery on Burroughs Road off Black Rock Turnpike in Fairfield. He will be buried with full military honors, including a rifle salute. Mourners are invited to join the family at Shiva at the family home immediately following the burial.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a contribution to the Wounded Warrior Project.
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