Roland H. Simmons OBITUARY

Roland H. Simmons OBITUARY

Roland Harvey Simmons was summoned by the Angels in Heaven on October 26, 2021. He was born of Lithuanian heritage in New Britain on June 1, 1931 which is where he eventually met his beautiful bride Nancy Williams. They were married for over 71 years. Growing up poor, Roland worked various jobs to help his family, including picking tobacco with a young black man named Martin Luther King Jr! He studied Nursing at NYU Bellevue Hospital where he graduated Valedictorian. He also attended Indiana University, while flipping pizza pies to provide for his growing family. His graduate work at Columbia University culminated in a Masters Degree in Public Health and Hospital Administration. After declining further studies at the Mayo Clinic he became Executive Director at a large New Jersey nursing home. He eventually built the new Avon Convalescent Home (Avon Health Center now) which he was administrator for many years. Following the sale of the convalescent home, he worked for the State of Connecticut as Medical Director of Hospitals and Medical Care, again flipping pies at Shakees in Avon to make ends meet. Roland served in the Army during the Korean War, first in the Signal Corps then in the Medical Corps, where he did pioneer work in dialysis treatment and with the burn unit. Roland lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida (Lets Go Mets) for awhile but his main enjoyment came from Point-O-Woods in Old Lyme. He went there as a child and eventually owned 3 different cottages over the years. He loved the beach, barbeque and boating/fishing, as did all his kids and family of friends. His other passions were new cars and dogs, we always had them. We thank his puppies, Heidi and Teddy, for loving him till the end. Roland was predeceased by his Mother, Mary Kallin; his brother, Donald Simons; his Aunt and Uncle Nellie and John Legnos; and his nephew Gary Simons. He is survived by his wife, Nancy; his children and spouses Michael and Toinette Simmons; MaryLou and Brian Haswell; Dean and Jennifer Simmons; John and Nancy Simmons and Amy and Michael Eagen. Grandkids include Melissa, Amanda, Kelsey, Emma, Madison, Tyler, Devin, Spencer, Owen, Patrick, Reagan and Noah. Great Grandkids: Cora and Andrea. Special thanks to Flo and Donnie Simons and family and Lolly and Don Canfield and family. No calling hours, family private service.