Reginald L. Simmons

Reginald Lawrence Simmons, 99 years of life, passed on 29 Nov. 2025 at Mount Sinai Hospital in Queens, NY. He lived at 510 Main Street, Suite #1914, Roosevelt Island, New York, and passed from cardiac arrest.

Biographical Sketch

Born in Dickinson, Texas to William Willie Simmons and Helen Rebecca Slaughter, Reginald graduated from Phyllis Wheatley High School. In 1945, at 19, he was drafted into the United States Army Air Forces, where his natural leadership led him to assist his unit commander with administrative and field duties, as well as instruct new recruits in basic training and weapons use.

In civilian life, dad was an avid golfer and a trained singer with a phenomenal pop-crooner’s voice. He recorded two songs—Crybaby Mood and This Is the Love—composed exclusively for him by Irving Spice. A self-described “esthete” and intellect, he spent time at the United Nations in conversation with ambassadors and dignitaries about improving conditions for marginalized communities. He was also deeply involved in the arts and owned no less than three art galleries: The Salon Internationale, The Al Shahara, and The Crescent Moon Salon of the Arts.

In 1961, Salvador Dalí sought a model to portray Othello the Moor in his 10' x 13' mural The Battle of Tetuan (1962). The piece is currently at the Morohashi Museum of Modern Art, in Fukushima Japan. Dalí’s muse recommended a fellow model (of the Arts Students League), one very singular Reginald Simmons, and a meeting at the St. Regis Hotel sparked a lasting friendship. Dalí commissioned photographer Philippe Halsman to capture dad in the poses that appear in the mural. One of his favorite Shakespeare lines was Othello’s final plea: “Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate, nor set down aught in malice…then must you speak Of one that loved not wisely, but too well".

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Family

Reginald is preceded in death by brothers William Floyd Simmons, O’Neal Frank Simmons, Marvin Simmons, Edward Simmons, Timothy Boyce, and sister Camilla Hinckle. He is survived by his children: Ruth Hazel Simmons (Potsdam, NY), Reginald Carbonell Simmons (NY), Deborah Helen Simmons-Walls (Portland, OR), Benjamin Francis Simmons & wife Carla (PA), Margot Regina Simmons & husband Jonathan Menche (WA), Linda Elizabeth Simmons (Cape May, NJ), and Melanie Berry (FL).

Grandchildren include Jason Spencer, Mariah TakesHorse, Morgan Mouchette & husband Eric (NY), Misha Simmons-Kelbatyrov & husband David, Jordan Fraser & wife Rizwana (TX), Dora Jolanda Walls, Ian Spooner, and Newton Pittullo. Great-grandchildren include John-John McCollum, Peytton Stroub, Bowen McCollum, Cylas Kelbatyrov, Sire Spooner, Romalise Kelbatyrov, Zavier Spooner, Miles Mouchette, Skylar Fraser, and Riley Fraser.

Service Details

A Memorial Celebration Service will be held at Harmon Funeral Home, 571 Forest Ave, Staten Island, NY 10310. Service from 9am to 11am.