Harvey Simmons
Gales Ferry — Harvey Farrar Simmons, 74, passed away after long illnesses March 17, 2021, at Pendleton Health and Rehabilitation, Mystic. Harvey is remembered for his fierce loyalty to family and friends; his no-nonsense ways; and most especially for his sense of humor, which could be outrageous. His family says his wisdom was a gift. He had a work ethic beyond compare and a booming voice filled with love.
Harvey served in the Submarine Service of the U.S. Navy for over 20 years. He spent time abroad in the Pacific Theater, Scotland and Sardinia. He loved Scotland, made many lifelong friends there, especially Fred (deceased) and Vivienne Gordon and family. He spent so much time there, we joked he wasn’t coming back to the States.
After retiring as senior chief from the U.S. Navy, he worked for years with Ecolochem, Inc. making pure water for power plants in Connecticut, and finished his career as a civilian contractor at the Groton New London Submarine Base.
Harvey is survived by his wife of 34 years, Joan (Goslin) Simmons of Gales Ferry. His parents Leslie and Geraldine Simmons predeceased him. He is survived by his brothers, George Simmons (Ruth Wagner), Vanessa and Jesse of Scituate, Mass. and Lowell Simmons of Portland, Ore.; his cousin Lee (and Jim) Capucci hold memories of happy times together, along with many Simmons cousins. He is affectionately remembered by sisters-in-law, Ann (Goslin) Bermingham and Mary (Goslin) Peterson; brother-in-law James Peterson; nieces and nephews, David and Sarah Bermingham, Christopher and Rosemarie Bermingham, Sarah and David Quinn, Elizabeth Bermingham, Patrick, Sarah and Josh Peterson, Michelle (Miles) Rowan, Laura (Nicholas) Vitanza, Andrew Goslin, Elizabeth (Michael) Nunziato; and grandnieces and nephews, Rebecca, Sean, Joseph, David and Mary Bermingham, Peter Alexander Bermingham and Courtney Rose (Bermingham) Norris, Joseph, Thomas and Molly Quinn, Davon Pike and Joziah Bermingham, Shelby and Dylan Doyle-Rowan, Brooklyn Rowan, AJ, Dominic and Giuliana Vitanza and Michael and Gabriel Nunziato — all of whom he loved and so enjoyed hearing about the latest news of their lives.
Thank you to the Ledyard visiting nurses, who took care of him for such a long time, and to all the staff at Pendleton Health and Rehabilitation, whose kindness and humor were so good for him.
There are no services at this time, but there will be a Memorial at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Harvey’s name to the United States Submarine Veterans Inc., Groton Base, 40 School St., Groton, Ct. 06340. Harvey’s gentle soul will be sorely missed by all who knew him.