George W. Simmonds

George graduated from Yale University in history in 1951, and later obtained his PhD in Russian History from Columbia’s Russian Institute (now Harriman Institute).

During those years he married Florence Simmonds from an Italian family (born Faggioli) whom he met at Classical High School in Springfield, Massachusetts.Florence played the piano and they met through music.They were married until Florence’s death in 2010. They had two children-- David and Katherine.

George was drafted during the Korean War and stationed at Fort Bragg where he would sometimes joke that he “taught the Generals Russian”.

George’s first career was as a history professor at Elmira College (New York) and later at Wayne State University and University of Detroit. George left teaching in 1979 and headed to Washington DC where he worked for the US government in Russian research mainly in Soviet technology and later in nuclear-non-proliferation. He fully retired in 1996 after a long career.

He and Florence enjoyed music, travel (mostly to Italy where they went frequently), the arts, and a little dose of politics. George was so knowledgeable, that he always enjoyed speaking with people on many topics.

George and Florence moved to California in 2006 to be nearer their children, first to Palo Alto and then to San Carlos.

George loved California and appreciated it’s beauty, but particularly the friends he made at his senior exercise class to whom he was devoted. He also continued to play the violin and joined a few Peninsula amateur orchestras, and played chamber music with friends until the pandemic cut short his favorite activities.

George leaves behind his son David Simmonds (Los Angeles) and daughter Katherine Simmonds (San Mateo), his close friend of many years--Garnet Spielman, cousin Claude Friedmann and his family, cousin Peter Loehr and wife Margot (Germany) and many friends.

A Memorial Service will be held at Crippen & Flynn Carlmont Chapel on Thursday February 1, 2024 at 1:30 p.m.