Top Kiwi sports administrator mourned

Squash New Zealand said in a Facebook page tribute that Simcock’s ‘‘infectious positivity and enduring support for squash will be sorely missed, and her life-long contributions to the game never forgotten’’.

Jahangir Khan, a sixtime world champion in the 1980s , credited Simcock with encouraging him to join the WSF board.

‘‘I have always admired Susie,’’ Khan said in a World Squash news release. ‘‘She was always very helpful to me and had boundless energy, in fact I often found it difficult to keep up with her. ‘‘She had a wonderful personality and lots of people learnt a lot from her.

‘‘It was Susie who persuaded me to join the WSF board, and I am delighted that she did. She was so passionate for all sport, and particularly squash. The respect she had around the world from other international federations was clear to see.’’

WSF chief executive Ted Wallbutton said Simcock was ‘‘equally at home in a local squash club, amongst the professional players or in the high-powered environment of the Olympic world’’. World Squash extended its condolences to Simcock’s husband Jon, daughter Robyn and son Jeremy.