John W. Simons, Jr., 85, passed away at home in Richmond, CA, on 02/27/2026, surrounded by his devoted family.

​John was born on September 13, 1940, in Brooklyn, New York. He attended Boys High School and Virginia State College, and he served with pride in the U.S. National Guard. He was preceded in death by his parents, John Simons, Sr. and Lucy Williams, and his brother, Philip Davis.

​Dedicated to his family and community for his entire life, John made a pivotal change at age 44. After working as an Allstate Insurance Agent in Colonie, New York, he chose to steer his career toward a new and more fulfilling path. He graduated from Hudson Valley Community College with a degree in Respiratory Therapy, which led him to relocate his family to California in 1988 to work in Seton Medical Center’s sub-acute unit in Daly City.

​After retiring in 2005, John moved to Reno, Nevada. He volunteered at St. Mary’s Medical Center, supported law enforcement for over a decade with the Reno Police Department’s SAVE program, and helped at the University Family Church food ministry in Sparks.

​At home, John was the heart of his family, especially during shared meals. He actively participated in multiple bowling leagues, held the position of Sergeant at Arms for the Sunset Match Club in Sparks, collected Mickey Mouse memorabilia, and regularly visited Disneyland.

​John is survived by his wife, Theresa; his children, Chad Howard-Simons (wife Neiasha; sons Chad Jr., Cameren, Caleb, and Chase), Egein Howard (husband Matt; daughter Emily), John Simons III (wife Dana; daughter Ella), Jowal Simons; and Jeremy Howard (daughter Samantha, sons Jeremy Jr., and Javier); his sister-in-law, Mary Lefebvre; his brother-in-law, Charles Collins (wife Kate); several great-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews; and his loyal fur-baby, Duddie the Cat.

Recently, John made the decision to embrace his faith and accept Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior. This choice provided him with significant comfort and tranquility in the final weeks of his life.

John may be gone, but his steady support, kindness, wisdom, and sense of humor continue to influence us. The way we treat others with compassion keeps his legacy alive, inspiring and guiding us into the future.

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