Thomas Simmons Jr.

Uncasville-Thomas Andrew Simmons Jr., age 93, of Uncasville passed away at William W. Backus Hospital on June 5, 2012. He was born in New London on May 21, 1919 to the late Henrietta (Carter) Simmons and Thomas Simmons Sr. He married his loving wife Maria Louise “Dolly” Simmons on February 25, 1948. She predeceased him.

Thomas was a WWII Army-Air Corps veteran. He started playing piano at age six and went on to play with Lionel Hampton, Dizzy Gillespie, and Melvin Jarvis. He played at the Flood Tide in Mystic for 27 years up until last Saturday. He hob knobbed with Betty Grable and Art Carney.

Thomas is survived by a son Thomas Andrew Simmons III and his wife Cynthia of Griswold, a son Wayne Allen Simmons and his wife Deborah Rachel of Norwich, and a son Curtis Todd Simmons and his wife Lee-Ann Gomes of Norwich. He also leaves behind a granddaughter Shealynn Dillon and her husband Algiers of Groton, a granddaughter Kendall Simmons of Norwich, a granddaughter Bryce Simmons of Norwich, great grandchildren Josiah Rocket-Simmons, Jaice Rocket-Simmons and Savien Dillon, and brothers Edward Simmons of Bloomfield, and Donald Simmons of Greeneville, North Carolina. He is predeceased by brothers Herbert and Ralph Simmons and a sister Emily Coleman.

Family and friends may visit Church and Allen Funeral Home, 136 Sachem St., Norwich on Friday from 5:00 p.m. until the time of the funeral home service at 8:00 p.m. A graveside service will be held on Saturday at 10:00 a.m. at Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London. Please visit www.churchandallen.com to leave an online condolence for the Simmon’s family.