Obituary of Leonard Simmonds

LEONARD CLAUDE SIMMONDS Having recently entered his 89th year, surrounded by his loving wife Betty and their family, passed peacefully into the presence of God at Uxbridge on Wednesday July 27, 2005. Born July 19, 1917 in Toronto, Claude was the cherished son of the late Arthur Claude and Ada May Shobrook. Deeply missed by his adored and adoring wife of more than 63 years, Betty Graham McNeill and their seven children and their spouses, 26 grandchildren and their spouses, and 7 great-grandchildren: Ruth Simmonds and her children Louise Korhonen and Chris Hazleton, and Danielle; Shelagh and Leigh Popov and Chloe and Sophie; Wesley Korhonen and Laura Korhonen. David and Suzanne Simmonds, Paul T. and Lisa Simmonds and Mackenzie; Anne Marie, Mark, Elizabeth, Jonathan, Peter and Rebecca. Rev. Dr. Anne Simmonds and her children, Gregory and Johanna Chambers; and her husband Bruce Bennett and his children Samantha, Kirsten and Christopher. John and Deborah Simmonds, Graham and Johanna Simmonds and Charles; Kathryn and Dan Clemmer and Brent and Eric; Matthew, Kristen, Jack and Henry. Bruce and Tamara Simmonds and Benjamin, Joshua, Daniel and James. Paul and Laurie Simmonds and William. Lois Weaver and her children Rachel and Jessica. Predeceased by brothers Herbert A. and David S. Loving brother of sisters Gladys Smith and Arthur, Dorothy and William Eberlin, Mary Sturgess and Rev. Dr. William, Madeline Simmonds and sister-in-law Barbara Simmonds (Mrs. David S.). Predeceased by beloved parents-in-law John Herbert and Cassie McNeill. Lovingly remembered brother-in-law of Rev. W. Arnold and Helen McNeill, Alan and Marion McNeill, Margaret and Rev. Morry Worozbyt and Ruth H. McNeill. Fondly remembered by Aunt Bertha Torrans. Special "Uncle Claude� to many nieces, nephews and their spouses and families, and to generations of Sunday School students at Immanuel Baptist and Glen Major churches. Special friend and mentor to scores of long-time friends at Immanuel and Glen Major. Dad lived a full life of accomplishment and service in the name of his Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. He was raised in North Toronto and Rosedale and graduated with highest honours in 1934 from Northern Secondary. With university not an option in the heart of the Great Depression, Dad joined his father A.C. Simmonds in the family electrical and radio parts business, commencing work on July 2, 1934 in perhaps the most difficult economic circumstances in history. He augmented his knowledge of radio through night courses at Radio College of Canada. At the outbreak of the war, Dad became a member of the 48th Highlanders Reserve, and in 1942 took a leave of absence from business to join the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals, Research and Development Branch, where he served in Ottawa in the rank of Sergeant-Major through the end of the war in 1945. One of his favourite of the many stories he used to tell was of his Commanding Officer Colonel who asked him for a job in the dying days of the war. Despite the challenge of the time he entered business, together with his father and younger brother David, Dad successfully built A.C. Simmonds & Sons to become the leading Canadian national distributor of electrical parts and electronic components, hi-fi, and communications equipment throughout the 1940�s, 50�s, 60�s and 70�s. The company was continually on the leading edge of market response to changing technology and successfully introduced many new electronic products to Canada. In 1977, Dad and his brother David recognized the expanded opportunity that would be available from the division of the Company between their families in order to accommodate the entrepreneurial abilities and drive of the next generation. This was accomplished effective January 1, 1978 with the assumption by David, his family and associates of the Lenbrook Division of A.C. Simmonds & Sons. Incorporated at that time, Lenbrook Inc. went on to become the base for the creation of numerous successful businesses including Clearnet Inc. and Air IQ. Under Dad�s leadership, A.C. Simmonds & Sons Ltd. also achieved tremendous growth and success after 1977, and spawned many different entrepreneurial enterprises including Midland Canada, Dynacharge Inc., Viewstar Canada, and ClubLink Corporation. In 1987, the family, together with other business associates, achieved control of Glenayre Electronics Ltd. of Vancouver, and Dad became Chairman until the annual meeting after the successful sale of the company in 1989. Dad had many Electronic Industry involvement�s, honours and associations but perhaps the one of which he was most proud of was his acceptance as a charter member of the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, notwithstanding the fact that the Depression has robbed him of the opportunity to actually become a qualified engineer. He had the honour of Chairing the annual IEEE conference on two separate occasions. Always open to technological advancement, he traveled extensively as a guest lecturer for IBM at their worldwide IDEAS seminars in the 1970�s. His love of people and his common touch was evidenced by his practice of personally greeting every employee at their workstation after any absence from business for more than a week. Most importantly, in the tradition established by A.C. Simmonds, Dad always conducted business with a widely recognized level of integrity that was never in doubt. Dad was a faithful and very active member of Immanuel Baptist Church for almost 80 years, fulfilling many different roles over the years including Young Peoples leader, Sunday School teacher, Juniors leader, and Board of Management member. He was General Superintendent of the Sunday School for 15 years, and was a member of the Board of Deacons for more than 50 years, serving as Chairman for many years. At the time of his passing, he continued as an Honorary Life Deacon, and one of the three Trustees of the Church. Although Dad did not possess the level of musical talent prevalent in his family, he did have a deep and abiding love of the hymns of the church, and had an incredible ability for memorization of many of them in their entirety. From the time of the purchase in 1947 of the family summer retreat in the Township of Uxbridge, Dad�s church involvement shifted during the summer months to his beloved Glen Major Church, affectionately known by the family as "the little church�. For many years he served under Sunday School superintendents Mr. John Hingston and Mrs. Jenny Johnson as Adult Class teacher, and in the mid-fifties he began to assist his father A.C. Simmonds as a lay preacher, using the experience he developed as a member of the Soldiers & Airmen�s Christian Association in Ottawa during the war. Upon the death of his father in 1966, Dad assumed full responsibility for the lay preaching and pastoral duties, and continued faithfully to lead the vibrant summer evening services so loved by many until his inability to do so five years ago. Son David assumed responsibility for coordination of the services at that time. Most of Dad�s Board involvements and commitments using his tremendous skill as a consensus builder were to a wide variety of Christian organizations, consistent with his strong belief in and love for both foreign and home missions work, and at the time of his passing he continued as an Honorary Life member of most of them. These included B.Y.P.U. (President 1949-50), Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship for 26 years (Chairman 1971-74), Ontario Pioneer Camp for 11 years (Chairman 1956-61), World Team (formerly RBMU) for 46 years, Yonge Street Mission for 44 years, Tyndale College & Seminary for 45 years (formerly OBC/OTS, Chairman 1976-82), and Scripture Union for 50 years. In 1978 he joined the Board of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and enjoyed a close association with the great evangelist for many years. One of the most memorable experiences of his life was the honour of him and Mom attending the investiture of Dr. Graham with the Congressional Medal of Honour by President Clinton. In the years of his reduced involvement in business, Dad assumed the role of Secretary of Scripture Union of the Americas, and in that role traveled extensively to mission destinations in South America and Africa. Dad was an avid gardener and had both skill and passion as evidenced by his expansive vegetable garden at Glen Hills, the family retreat. Relatively late in life he became a golfer and although he never was particularly good at it, he was always proud of his ability to putt well on the greens of his favourite golf course, Cherry Downs, where he played often with the many grandsons who became his best golfing companions. For almost 30 years Mom and Dad generously welcomed family and friends to their winter home in Redington Beach. In his spare time, which was almost non-existent, Dad pursued his love of collecting stamps of the British Commonwealth countries, with particular emphasis on the Provinces of Canada stamps, and those of Canada, the country he loved so much. The family would like to express their appreciation for the love and support from so many friends and family over the years and especially in Dad�s final days. As life became more challenging for Dad over the past two years, he and Mom have enjoyed the wonderful, caring love and support of Mercedes Acosta, Connie Ibe and Rene Wyssen and we wish to express our particular appreciation to them. Special thanks also to the staff of Uxbridge Cottage Hospital for their wonderful care over the past several weeks. The family will receive friends and family on Sunday, July 31 from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. at GLEN MAJOR CHURCH, Concession 7, Uxbridge, and at IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH, 1100 Finch Avenue East (at Don Mills) on Monday, August 1 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. The funeral service will be held on Tuesday, August 2 at 11 o�clock at IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH, with fellowship at the church immediately following. Interment to take place at Claremont Union Cemetery at approximately 4 o�clock on August 2. If desired, gifts in Dad�s memory may be directed to Yonge Street Mission, 270 Gerrard Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5A 2G4 or Ontario Pioneer Camp, 64 Prince Andrew Place, Toronto, Ontario M3C 2H4 or World Team Canada, 7575 Danbro Cres., Mississauga, Ontario L5N 6P9. Funeral arrangements entrusted to HUMPHREY FUNERAL HOME - A.W. MILES CHAPEL, Toronto, #1-800-616-3311. Dad�s life motto was taken from the Old Testament book of Proverbs, Chapter 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy path.�