Winthrop- Ronald Charles Simons, longtime Readfield resident, died on August 21st of complications from Lewy body dementia, with his family by his side. Born in Grand Ledge, Michigan in November of 1946 to Donald and Laura Simons, Ron enlisted in the Air Force in 1966. A year later, while stationed in Missouri, he went to the State Fair, where—as he often told it—he spotted Susan Jean Ford in a “beam of light” and couldn’t help but introduce himself. They married in 1970, spent a summer living at a family camp in Monmouth while Ron worked as a counselor at Camp Androscoggin, and then moved to East Lansing for Ron to finish college at Michigan State. While there, he began working as an assistant wedding photographer, sparking a love for the creative work that would ultimately support his family for decades. Though Ron enjoyed growing up in Grand Ledge, frequent family visits to Maine (where his mother grew up, and where his parents met when Don was stationed in South Portland during WWII) had created a love for the state, and he and Susan decided to settle there. Their daughter Lacy was born in 1975, and they moved to Maine shortly after, building a home near Maranacook Lake. Ron built the house with the help of his carpenter father, who inspired much of Ron’s love of building and craft.

Ron taught industrial arts at the newly founded Maranacoook Community School for four years, during which their second child Timothy was born; during those years, Ron and Susan found a community of people who would become lifelong friends. Ron left Maranacook to venture out on his own and open a photography business that initially operated out of the basement (which they referred to, tongue firmly in cheek, as a “garden-level studio.”) With Susan alongside him as business manager, Simons’ Photographic grew to the point that they built a studio addition onto their home, so that despite the long hours required to run their business, he could still be present with his family, which at this point had grown with the birth of the youngest child Daniel. The close proximity to the house–accessible through a small set of stairs in the dining room–wasn't always ideal, as some of the kids' frequent arguments about whose turn it was to load the woodbox after school could often be heard through the studio door, no matter how much soundproofing was installed.

He was an avid fly fisherman (a love passed down from his father), enjoyed spending summers at the family camp on Cochnewagon Pond, and is responsible for treasured family portraits in hundreds of homes throughout Maine. His kind and caring nature was expressed through his love of his grandkids, who will greatly miss him; though Ron won many awards for his creative work, he would be the first to say that his children and his spirited grandchildren are his greatest legacy.

Ron is survived by his wife of 56 years Susan; daughter Lacy and her daughter Ramona; son Timothy and his wife Annie and their children Hopper and Martin; son Daniel and his wife Sarah and their children Evelyn and Henry. His family extends their thanks to the staff at Togus VA and MaineGeneral Rehabilitation and Long-Term Care at Glenridge for their compassionate care.

We would be remiss not to mention that as a veteran, Ron was vehemently opposed to the Trump administration.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. on Saturday, August 29  in Vienna; please email simonsfamily04355@gmail.com for more details.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Ron’s honor can be made to the Maranacook Food Pantry. Checks can be made out to MAFP or Maranacook Food Pantry and mailed to:

RSU #38

ATTN: Food Pantry

45 Millard Harrison Drive

Readfield ME 04355

Arrangements and guidance are in the care of Roberts Funeral Home and Cremation Care, 62 Bowdoin Street, Winthrop, Maine 04364 to leave words of comfort, encouragement, or condolences please visit www.khrfuneralhomes.com