Richard Clyde Simons

Richard was born on August 21, 1933 in South Bend, Indiana and died on April 24, 2023 at the age of 89. He inherited his sense of humor and his work ethic from his father, Clyde Simons (a farmer, a pilot, and a pharmacist) and his love of tennis, theatre, and music from his mother, Rose Moore (oldest child of immigrant parents from Hungary). Both parents were committed to education. Richard attended Culver Military Academy in Culver, Indiana and excelled in tennis, theatre, academics, and leadership. After three years at Notre Dame, he was accepted to Northwestern Medical School in Chicago, and later received his psychiatric training at the Menninger School of Psychiatry in Topeka, Kansas. He wisely married his teenage sweetheart, Barbara Elaine Buettell, in June 1961, and off they went for two years in the Army Medical Corps at Valley Forge Psychiatric Hospital (near Philadelphia) and then Fort Devans Psychiatric Outpatient Clinic (near Boston). Their first daughter (Lisa) was born in Boston. Psychoanalytic training and two more children (Michael and Kimberly) occupied them during their twelve years in Brooklyn. Happy times, wonderful friends, and hard work followed. Moving to Denver in 1976 was the next step in their journey. Barbara subsequently became a renowned and beloved piano teacher in Colorado.

Richard received Life Achievement Awards from the American Psychoanalytic Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the Colorado Psychiatric Society, and the Menninger School of Psychiatry. At the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, he was Professor Emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry, pioneering behavioral health education for all medical students. There were other awards as well, but he was most proud of his wife, their three children, and their two grandchildren, Hunter and Sydney Mayhew. Richard hoped to be fondly remembered by all of them (he is!). Regarding his scientific publications, there were three that he felt were most special: the 3rd edition of a textbook for medical students: “Understanding Human Behavior in Health and Illness” in 1985 and two papers for his psychoanalytic colleagues: “The Life and Art of Gustav Vigeland” in 1984 and “The Lawsuit Revisited” in 2003. He is predeceased by his wife Barbara, who died in November 2020, and is survived by his children Lisa Simons (Bill) of Greenville, TX, Michael Simons (Rossy) of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Kimberly Patterson (Mark) of Nederland, CO and grandchildren Hunter and Sydney Mayhew . In lieu of flowers, please donate to TRU Community Care Hospice of Boulder Colorado. A Celebration of Richard’s life will be held on Saturday July 29, 2023 at 10:00 A.M. at the Green Mountain Presbyterian Church 12900 West Alameda Parkway at Mississippi in Lakewood, Colorado 80228.

Tempus Fugit, Memento Mori

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.olingerhampdenmortuary.com for the Simons family.