Halevy Hercules Simmons

Halevy Hercules Simmons, 83, a longtime Montclair resident, died on Tuesday, April 9.

Born in Brooklyn to Iris Clemantina Small and Isaac Simmons, Mr. Simmons was a first-generation American. He was gifted in mathematics and design, and carved out a successful career in architecture.

Mr. Simmons graduated in 1953 summa cum laude from Howard University in Washington, D.C., where he received the Howard University Medal of Excellence in Design that same year.

He attended on both track and tennis scholarships, and worked at the Library of Congress while he was a student. He was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. as an undergraduate student at Howard, and in the 1990s, joined Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity (the Alpha Boulé).

During the Korean War, Mr. Simmons did drafting and design work for the U.S. government, and after college graduation, he taught architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn while establishing his own architecture company. He ran the company for most of his professional life. Involved in philanthropic efforts, Mr. Simmons financially supported the academic and professional pursuits of hundreds of disadvantaged youth whom he mentored and helped to attend college.

In 1955, Mr. Simmons married his college sweetheart, Shirley Herbert Simmons. Before moving to Missouri, he and his family lived in Montclair for more than 30 years.

Mr. Simmons was predeceased by his grandson, Miles; and his siblings, Muriel Chapman and Earl Simmons. He is survived by his wife of 57 years, Shirley Herbert Simmons; his three children, Tracey Simmons Fisher and her husband Terence, Stephen Simmons and his wife Natalie, and Scott Simmons and daughter Ariel; and his other of six living grandchildren, Terence Fisher II, Taylor Fisher, Alexis Simmons, Elise Simmons, and Sunny Simmons.