Obituary of Gail B. Simmonds

, Gail Baldwin Simmonds December 31, 1942 - March 7, 2013 Gail Baldwin Simmonds, 70, a lifelong resident of Chestnut Hill and Wyndmoor, died peacefully on March 7th after a valiant battle with cancer. Born in Philadelphia on New Year's Eve 1942 to the late Barbara Bishop Baldwin and Seward Baldwin, Mrs. Simmonds was a lifer at Springside School in Chestnut Hill, Pennsylvania and graduated in 1960. She attended Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey and earned an Associate of Arts degree in 1962. Mrs. Simmonds then spent a year working in London, where she met and fell in love with an Englishman named David F. C. Simmonds. They were married on September 14, 1968 at St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh and settled in Wyndmoor. Mrs. Simmonds reveled in her community, volunteering with the Friends of the Chestnut Hill Library, Springside School, Wyndmoor Community Association, and Chestnut Hill Hospital. She hosted Springside reunion luncheons and started the Spring Lane block party - she was the life of any party. Mrs. Simmonds was especially known for her love of sewing, gardening, walking her beloved basset hound in Valley Green, and traveling extensively with her daughters - from the coast of Maine to remote villages in Malawi. Mrs. Simmonds worked as an administrative assistant with several local offices including advertising agencies, the Donesco Company, and Chestnut Hill Academy, where she spent 14 rewarding years as the Headmaster's Assistant. At CHA Mrs. Simmonds put her love of the Chestnut Hill community, children and event planning to work - even starting a boys knitting club. She was awarded the Landreth Award and made an Honorary Alumnus in 2009. SCH Academy Head of School Frank Steel said, "Gail has been a true and loyal force in our school community for most of her life". An active member of St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh for nearly 60 years, Mrs. Simmonds served on the Vestry, stewardship and search committees. She also chaired the Country Fair and Memorial Committee, and organized galas, dinners and trips. Mrs. Simmonds is survived by her daughters, Barbara Simmonds of Palo Alto, CA and Caroline Simmonds Cook of Washington DC, and her sisters, Barbara Baldwin Miller of Chestnut Hill and Candace Baldwin Richards of Scottsdale, AZ. She was predeceased by her husband, David F. C. Simmonds on February 27, 2000. A memorial service will be conducted at 2pm Saturday, March 16th at St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh. Memorial donations may be made in her name to St. Thomas' Church, Whitemarsh, P.O. Box 247, Fort Washington, PA 19034 or the National Brain Tumor Society, 124 Watertown Street, Suite 2D, Watertown, MA 02472.