George Simms, a beloved and trusted former Long Island druggist, died from heart disease at the Marliere Hospice Center near his home in New Port Richey, Florida on Saturday. May 7th - he was 75 years old.

As a long time resident of Oakdale, Simms volunteered as a firefighter and was a member of the local Lions Club. He was an avid photographer and loved to fish - having been a first mate on charter fishing boats while working his way through school.

Simms, who was born in Flushing, retired from Islip Rexall Drugs in 1988 after cardiac bypass surgery. He had been a trusted member of the Islip community during his 30 years at the pharmacy and relocated to Florida in 1990. A graduate of Sayville High School in 1945, he attended St. John's University before a career that included sales (for Wyeth Drugs and others) and retail (in a few Sayville and West Sayville pharmacies) before his long stint in Islip. His son George still lives in Islip and said "People always stop me to relate stories of the selfless acts my father performed over the years. Whether it was extending credit and holding checks during hard times; staying open late so they could get a much-needed prescription filled; or just taking photos of their special occasion, one theme always came through - he loved helping people."



His love of photography, fishing and charitable endeavors coupled with his strong beliefs in education led to an active retirement that included volunteer work with the Coastal Conservation Association and Fish-On Fishing Club of New Port Richey; The International Museum of St. Petersburg; Pasco County schools' "Odyssey of the Mind"; and Gulf High School's "Senior Project." In addition, he was a member of New York Health & Human Service Union 1199 SEIU, AFL-CIO; American MENSA; and the Coin Club of Pasco.

He is survived by his wife Marilyn Foster Simms of New Port Richey, Florida; daughter Marie Simms and her partner William Flynn of Wesley Chapel, Florida; son Marmaduke Simms II and his wife Donna Simms of Burleson, Texas; daughter Amy Stanley and her husband Kevin J. Stanley of Hudson, Florida; son George K. Simms Jr. and his wife Wendy Wetherall of Islip; sisters Jean Hoek of Brentwood, Ena Dunn of Sag Harbor, and Violet McConnell of New Port Richey, Florida; and eleven grandchildren - Marmaduke Simms III, Robert Kenneth Simms, Samantha Renee Woods, Bradford James Stanley, Destin "Chuck" Stanley, Jacquelyn Jemison Simms, Chloe Brenda Virgona, Valerie Louise Virgona, Philip Simms Wetherall, Hunter Wetherall Simms, and Dylan Wetherall Simms. He was predeceased by his brother, Stanley Pope of Fogo, Newfoundland. He was also a beloved "Pop" or "Poppy" to dozens of his grandchildren's friends and "Uncle George" for over a hundred nieces, nephews and friends and their families.

An open Memorial Service will be held in his honor at 11am on June 5th at the Gulf Landings Recreation Center, 6035 Barefoot Court, New Port Richey, Florida 34652

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to:
WISH TO FISH
Fish-On Fishing Club
C/O Chet Jasak
5134 Miller Bayou Dr.
Port Richey, Fl 34668
Memo part of check: WISH TO FISH
or
Hernando-Pasco Hospice
12107 Majestic Blvd.
Hudson, FL 34667-2460
Please include your name and address and note that your donation is in memory of George Simms.