Donald Simpson

Simpson Donald Departed this life January 15, 2024 at Masonic Village in Burlington, NJ, but his integrity, kindness and sense of humor live on. Don was born to Clark and Anna (Tomko) Simpson in Cleveland where he spent his Elementary School years. He spent his Junior High years in Cincinnati where he caddied summers, developing his lifelong disdain for golf, and his High School years in College Park, MD where he learned to fell trees on his summer job. Many years later he entertained 26 Thanksgiving guests by felling a dead 30-foot Scotch Pine, pointing correctly to where it would land and missing the corner of his house by 4 inches. He enjoyed those seasonal dinners with his large extended family. Don graduated from McKinley Tech High School in Washington D.C. in 1949 as President of his Senior Class and was voted Most Likely to Succeed. In the Yearbook he "willed" his "curly hair, prominent nose and bowed legs to anyone who wants to stand out in a crowd." At Cornell University, studying Chemical Engineering, he met his future wife of 68 years, Claire Desaix, who survives him. He transferred to Lafayette College earning a BS in Chemical Engineering, Cum Laude. Don studied Law at St. John's University at night, working during the day, but he found time to be with, teach and play with his children. He was a hands-on-dad from the start, reading to all 6 of his children, taking them to the library regularly and teaching them to read using McGuffey's Readers. He enjoyed teaching them crafts and card games, showed them how to create towns with blocks and made numerous kites! He helped the Boy Scout leader by going on weekends hikes with the boys in bitter cold and joined Indian Guides for one son. He taught all of the children how to fish and crab and was called Fishing Grandpa by one grandchild. He loved to fish even if he didn't catch anything! Of all his accomplishments he was proudest of his children and they made him doubly proud when they married six wonderful partners Paul (Emma Melchior), Mark (Lisa Ford), Andrew (Robin Freeman), Phil (Donna Thomas), Terry (Bill) Brosseau, and Ruth (David) Martin. He was also proud of the next generation Owen (Cassie Davidson), Eric, David (Patti Sica), Tim, Claire, and Neo Simpson and Ben and Sam Brosseau, and of his 2 great-granddaughters, Sparrow and Edie. Don very much appreciated the help of his longtime office manager, Karen Raulston. In addition to his wife and children, Don is survived by his brother, Bruce, and many nieces and nephews. His sister, Eileen Turyn, pre-deceased him. Don and his family enjoyed living in Moorestown, NJ for fifty years, with all his children graduating from Moorestown High School. He served on the Moorestown School Board and was President of the Board of Trustees of Perkins Center for the Arts at its inception. He counseled and befriended men incarcerated in New Jersey prisons. He headed up a committee of citizens who planted evergreen trees along the lake in Strawbridge Park and another group who canoed or waded in the lake, removing all manner of trash from it. He was a hands-on-citizen. Don put his scientific background to good use, specializing in Patent, Trademark and Environmental Law. He loved the Law and developed lasting relationships with many of his clients. Upon reading about his death, one client wrote: "I feel like I lost a Father. I always felt he was a big reason for our success. Don held our hands and taught us things that had nothing to do with the law. We considered him our friend first and lawyer second." A Celebration of Life Ceremony and Luncheon will be held for Don at Masonic Village at Burlington on Saturday, February 24 at 11 A.M. If you would like to attend the Luncheon and/or need more information, please email to: SimpsonFamily@coralbrief.com. All are welcome. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Don's memory to: Masonic Charity Foundation of NJ (902 Jacksonville Rd., Burlington, NJ, 08016).