John G. Simson

John Gammon Simson

August 22, 1940 - September 14, 2026

 

Husband, father, world traveler, community volunteer, gardener and furniture refinisher – all of John’s pursuits benefitted from a plan. Throughout his personal and professional life he offered skillful solutions to complex problems. He would not only give advice, but ask for it, too. He would think through a question with curiosity and care, and he taught the people around him how to be planners, too.

 

John planned family vacations all over New England and Canada, and an epic trip to Europe when his girls were teens. Was there a flying buttress unseen by the Simsons? No! Whether planned by John or a tour service, later in life travel took John and Nancy to many fascinating places – Croatia, Spain, Italy, Scotland, Ireland, Mexico, Costa Rico, Great Britain, plus several cross country road trips in the U.S., including the entire length of Route 66. Architecture, history, birding and gardens were the priorities. Always ready to learn something new, in 2026 he enlisted Gemini to plan a road trip to visit all the stops on the Henry Knox Cannon Trail from Crown Point, NY to Roxbury, MA. He was energized by continuous learning and seemed to never forget anything he had read or seen.

 

Born in Boston, Massachusetts in 1940, and growing up in Needham, John was a second generation long-suffering Boston sports fan – primarily the Red Sox, he could not resist the ups and downs of the Patriots and the Celtics, too. His loyalty and optimism was admired by family and shared with many.

 

He attended Middlebury College with an ROTC scholarship and met life-long friends at the ATO fraternity house, stories of which have entertained his family for years. John served as a U.S. Army Lieutenant (later promoted to Captain) in the Military Police in  Korea in 1964-1965, where he was able to travel to Japan on vacation. In 1966, Nancy Barrows, State Department employee at the U.S. Consulate, spotted John at the Officer’s Club at Kagnew Station, Asmara, Ethiopia (Eritrea). She introduced herself to him and his green 1964 ½ Ford Mustang convertible and the rest is history. Married only six months later, they would have celebrated their 60th anniversary on October 15 of this year.

 

John earned his Masters in Public Administration in 1970 from George Washington University, and John and Nancy moved to Arlington, Vermont – part of the plan to return to his favorite state, with the added benefit of being closer to his parents, who had retired there. 

 

After that lightning fast courtship in 1966, John and Nancy got to know each other and confirmed this was forever. So in 1971 daughter Carrie was born and Sarah followed three years later. Life in Arlington was a mix of hard work on county planning in Bennington, and creating a community of friends forged with Battenkill River tubing parties and wild wiffle ball games. He started hunting for antiques and refinishing furniture at that time, and has filled their home with his restorations since. John’s commitment to gardening sprouted there, too – by a most recent accounting, John planned and planted over 19,000 square feet of vegetables in his 86 years, despite some infamous battles with the woodchuck.

 

John was Vermont's State Planning Director from 1977-1982, which he found incredibly rewarding to serve during the Governor Richard A. Snelling years. Leaving state government was difficult for John, but his plan for his family included the benefits of entrepreneurship and a financial planning business.

 

After they relocated to South Burlington from Barre, John began what became 40+ years of volunteering in Chittenden County to serve and improve his community. As a board member with a good plan, he often became the Chair. John advised on land use and city development through the South Burlington Charter Review Committee, filled an unexpected vacancy on the South Burlington City Council, led its Affordable Housing Committee and Trust Fund, participated in two City Manager search committees, raised funds on the South Burlington Library Foundation and filled many leadership positions in the South Burlington Rotary Club. In 2024 he began to lead the Sexton Committee to preserve and improve the once-neglected South Burlington cemeteries. Outside his own community, he served on various boards and organizations – RSVP, Bennington Rotary Club, Housing Vermont, University Health Center, United Way of Chittenden County and the Greater Burlington Industrial Corporation to name a few.

 

In his personal life, he was a softball coach for his daughters’ elementary and middle school teams and always available to think through a school project, polish a sports skill or sharpen a resume. Over the years this interest in helping his girls never waned. He continued to advise his daughters professionally as a skilled co-worker might do. He was proud of and curious about his grandkids and instilled in them a love of history and commitment to service.

 

John Simson left us by following his own plan. Recent and cumulative impacts on his health made John determined to plan the end of his life in an organized way. He died peacefully under hospice care at McClure Miller Respite House in Colchester, Vermont. He left just enough time to gather his wife, his daughters and his friends. He heard from his grandkids and son-in-law, and advised on a final furniture refinishing project he didn’t have time to complete, pesto making, and a gardening project for the spring. His mind remained sharp, listening to shared memories and sharing his appreciation, guidance and support for his loved ones. And, after a final Red Sox win he was ready to go, according to the plan. 

 

He is survived by his true love of 60 years, Nancy Simson (née Barrows), his daughter Carrie Simson, his daughter and son-in-law Sarah Simson and Julian Bill, his grandchildren Oscar, Hollis and Rosie and brother-in-law, Donald Barrows. He was predeceased by his parents John Donald Simson and Nancy Gammon Simson.

 

Please let John inspire you to get involved and serve your community wherever you see a need and, most importantly, never miss a chance to vote! Should you wish to honor John in a way that will make a difference, please consider making a donation in his name to the Champlain Housing Trust (https://www.getahome.org/) or the Vermont Community Foundation (https://vermontcf.org/) or to a charity of your choice.