VMD Jay Simmons
VMD Jay Simmons
Obituary
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VMD Jay Simmons Obituary
Affectionately known as Dr. Jay by his clients and students for his kindness, quick wit and contagious laugh, Jay began his career as a chemistry and physics teacher at Collingswood High School. In 1958, he founded Audubon Veterinary Associates in Audubon, New Jersey, where he went on to care for generations of beloved family pets. After retiring from his veterinary practice in 1991 at the age of 60, his lifelong love of teaching drew him back to the classroom, where he taught biology and anatomy at Gloucester Catholic High School for the next 20 years.
Jay found great joy in attending the opera, reading historical novels, and entertaining friends, colleagues, and his beloved family with humorous stories from his life. Upon retiring at 82, still full of energy, he wrote an unpublished memoir capturing many touching and amusing encounters with the devoted "pet parents" he met throughout his veterinary career.
A talented soccer player in his younger years, Jay was especially proud to have been a member of the Penn State soccer team that won the national championship in 1951. That achievement led to a goodwill tour of Iran arranged by the U.S. Department of State, making the team the first American athletic group to visit the country on such a mission. Jay took great pride in knowing that his picture hung in the Penn State all-sports museum.
Jay is survived by his wife of 69 years, Joyce Simmons, née Gleaner. He was the father of Eve (Duke) Humphreys, Shari (Roger) Zingle, Rod (Cecilia) Simmons, and Abbe (Chris) Morris; the grandfather of Max, Maddy (Mike), Zack, Evyn, Grace, Leah, and Rachel; and the great-grandfather of Clara.
Graveside service will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Monday, December 22, at Locustwood Memorial Park, 1500 Marlton Pike, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in his memory.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Winfield Watson
December 28, 2025
Dy Jay and I wrote a movie review section for the Rams newspaper from 93 to 95. I will miss him terribly and it is sad the future will not have him in my life. I would love him as my guardian angel. I need one.
Mindy (Swartz) Norlian
December 24, 2025
Jay was one of the best. He was our family vet and a dear friend of my dad´s. I always knew my dog Flip was in good hands at his practice. Later when my parents lived at the same place as him and Joyce, it was always such a pleasure to see them and reconnect. I also know two of his kids; Shari and Abbe. My sincere condolences to all of you. He made the world a better place. I know he will be missed by all who loved him.
Frank
December 23, 2025
I had 3 classes with Doc, we got pretty close in a short period of time. By the end of my junior year we spoke after class everyday, and he giving me a beautiful leather jacket that was to big for him.... that i still have to this day!! Thanks for everything Doc. I feel bad for the kids who never had Doc Simmons as a teacher!
Elaine Sautter
December 22, 2025
Dr Simmons was my dog vet for years. He was a very kind caring vet. I think I took my dog to him for years. When he left his business which I missed him very much. He taught my daughter at GCHS. May he rest in peace.
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John Colman
December 22, 2025
Doc Simmons was a gift to Gloucester Catholic High School. He had a wonderful reputation as a veterinarian but he had an even more impactful one as an educator. He basically had two careers at which he excelled.
None of the students in his AP Biology class will ever forget the class trips to the University of Pennsylvania Veterinary School where they experienced first hand a surgical procedure.
Thank you, Joyce, for sharing him with us. GCHS will be forever grateful.
Tim Dalton
December 22, 2025
Doc Simmons was my favorite teacher, I had him for 3/4 years at GCHS. He was so warm, so funny, such a joy to be in his class. He taught biology in a way that made it fascinating and accessible. Whether he was teaching us about the organelles of the cell or the stages of meiosis, or just telling loving jokes about his wife, his love of life came through at every level.
Linda M Pawling
December 21, 2025
So sorry to hear of the loss of Dr Simmons
He took care of many of our family pets in Audubon.
Bryan DeFoney
December 21, 2025
Dr. Simmons was a brilliant teacher who brought learning to life in his classroom. He demanded respect, effort, and commitment to one of the great loves of his life: science. He made you love science and want to be smarter simply by being in his presence. I am grateful to have had Dr. Simmons teach me, challenge me, and make me work so hard to pass his lab practicums. He was the epitome of a Gloucester Catholic education. I am sad to read this, but proud to have been taught by him and thankful that he gave so much of himself to GCHS. I am also grateful to his family for allowing him to share his talents with a generation of GCHS students. Rest in peace, Dr. Simmons.
Bryan DeFoney
GCHS Class of 2008
Tricia (Reiners) Duer
December 21, 2025
I still remember Dr. Simmons-my senior year anatomy teacher at GCHS in 1992-as if it were yesterday.
He had this rare mix of quick wit and compassion that made even the toughest lessons something to look forward to.
I can still picture the day we started dissecting a cat-half of us nervous, half fascinated-and he turned it into one of the most unforgettable learning moments of high school.
He guided us through it with patience, humor, and a respect for what we were learning that stuck with me ever since.
Dr. Simmons didn´t just teach anatomy; he showed us how much heart there is in understanding life itself.
Melissa (Foley) Usher
December 21, 2025
Doc definitely made biology memorable (frogs and pigs). Always spoke of his family(especially his wife). Extremely passionate teacher, always level toned even with my class. What a long wonderful life. Sending condolences and prayers.
Deborah. Heins
December 21, 2025
Doc Simmons was a wonderful and compassionate teacher at GCHS. I was lucky enough to know him and have him teach my two daughters. The lessons he taught our kids go far beyond Biology. He was a good man who made a difference in this world. -Deborah McDermott-Heins
GCHS class of 1981
Kim (McNutt) Marfia
December 20, 2025
Doc Simmons was my favorite. I had him for biology and anatomy and homeroom one year. He was so kind and soft spoken, yet funny and quick witted. He used to talk about his wife and kids all the time. He loved well! May you rest in peace Doc and your memory live on through those whose lives you touched.
Erin Van Wagner
December 20, 2025
Dr. Simmons was the most amazing teacher- all these years later, I still remember how passionate he was about sharing his knowledge about science. Rest in peace.
Tracy Matozzo
December 20, 2025
Dr Jay was an amazing human being and an exceptional teacher. He took such great care of all of us in class. He made us better people simply by being present in the classroom and in our lives. Thank you for sharing him with us at GCHS.
Lori Fetter
December 20, 2025
Thank you Doc for all the memories in Biology, AP Biology, and Anatomy & Physiology! I went on to pursue degrees in Animal Science and Lab Animal Science. Today, I think of you often as an A&P educator as I maintain the high standards for learning in the sciences that you instilled in your students! Thank you for your contributions to the veterinary and academic arenas! Rest easy.
Scott
December 20, 2025
Great man great teacher great great person
Erika Stahl
December 20, 2025
Doc was my favorite teacher ever! You have many teachers in life but not many that really truly make an impact in your life! I took Doc´s science classes 3 out of 4 years at GC (would have been 4 and it wasn´t only because I had to take chem). He made science fun, enjoyable and taught in a way everyone understood. Overall, he had such a kind and gentle soul that loved telling a good joke! I always say he was the reason I went on to be a nurse! What a life well lived with a beautiful legacy left behind! Rest in peace Doc!
Jill (Sacchetti) Coulahan
December 20, 2025
Doc was one of my all-time favorite teachers. His love of science really came through in his teaching and I try to emulate that in my own teaching. May he rest in peace.
Anne Heim
December 20, 2025
It was an honor to be a teacher with Jay at Gloucester Catholic. We had wonderful discussions and he was a man of deep faith. I am so happy that my own children had the experience of knowing him and having him as a teacher. He was a Ram, and I will never forget him. May he rest in peace and enjoy knowing the legacy of warmth and love that he left with us. My condolences to Joyce, his best friend, and his children whom he talked so lovingly about.
Mary Ann Saunders
December 20, 2025
I had the privilege of working with Jay at Gloucester Catholic during his 20 year tenure with us. He was the kindest man and always ready to tell a good story and laugh at his own jokes. Although not a Catholic, he was a man of great faith and never missed attending religious and extra-curricular events at Gloucester Catholic. I always remember on the afternoon of a pep rally, he would come into the gym with earplugs in and a pocket full of them for anyone who needed a pair.
Jay loved teaching and prepared several generations of students for their future careers as doctors, nurses, veterinarians, and other professionals with his knowledge and wisdom. I often hear students say that they were well prepared for college because of "Dr. Jay".
Jay will be missed by all who knew him, especially Joyce and his children.
Rest easy, Jay.
Mary Ann Saunder
GCHS
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