Obituary of Gilbert L Simmons

Gilbert L. Simmons, 87, of Peabody, died peacefully on Sunday, July 17, 2016 at his residence. He was the devoted husband of Inez (Reale) Simmons with whom he shared 65 years of marriage. Gil was born on September 14, 1928 in New Bedford, MA, the son of the late Edith (Simmons) Guilmette and was raised there and graduated from St. Anthony Parochial High School in 1945. He then entered the US Coast Guard serving during WW 11 until his discharge in 1946. He became an insurance agent with the Boston Mutual Life Insurance Co. from 1955 until 1968 when he became an international insurance representative with the U.F.C.L. Union from 1968 until 1984. Gil then was employed with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Dept. of Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission until his retirement in 1988. He was a very active citizen of Peabody being a member of the Democratic City Committee, and also serving as a board member of the Peabody Housing Authority and later was elected a member of the Peabody Electric Light Commission from 1984 to 1994. He also served on many civic activities including the 50th Anniversary of the City of Peabody Parade committee and later helped formed the Rawhide Marching Band of Peabody. He had been a member of the Portuguese American Veterans Post 1. He and his wife enjoyed traveling to Europe and taking cruises. He liked taking long walks over the city of Peabody and making conversations about the affairs of state. Besides his wife Inez, he is survived by two daughters and a son-in-law, Joanne and Richard McGarvey of Lynn, MA and Linda Simmons of Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada, two grandchildren, William G. Scotti and his wife Brittany of Sagamore Beach, MA and Pamela M. Scotti of Hamilton, two great grandchildren, Will and Jack Scotti, a sister-in-law and his two nephews, Theresa Reale and Michael and Jamie Reale and Stephen and Christine Reale all of Boylston, MA. He was the brother-in-law of the late Frank Reale. A Private Family Service will be held on Thursday at the Conway, Cahill-Brodeur Funeral Home at the 82 Lynn St., Peabody facility. Burial will be in Cedar Grove Cemetery, Peabody. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the National Parkinson Disease Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL, 33131 or to charity of your choice. For guestbook, please visit www.ccbfuneral.com