Dr. Earl M. Simmons Jr.

Dr. Earl M. Simmons, Jr. of Montgomery died on Sunday, March 7, 2010 after a short illness. Dr. Simmons was 81. The funeral service will be held at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church, 219 Adams Avenue, on Thursday, March 11, 2010 with visitation in the parish hall beginning at 9 a.m. The funeral service will begin at 10 a.m. and will be followed by a private graveside service. Born in Birmingham in 1928, Dr. Simmons earned a football scholarship to Vanderbilt University, where he also played and lettered 3 years in baseball. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, Dr. Simmons obtained a Masters Degree in metallurgical engineering from the University of Alabama in 1952. Following graduate school, he attended the University Of Alabama School Of Medicine, graduating in 1956 after winning the Phi Chi award for outstanding student in surgery. Upon graduating medical school, Dr. Simmons was selected chief resident at the Medical College of Alabama in both general surgery and in thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. He was awarded the Champ Lyons award for outstanding surgical resident in 1957. He taught clinical cardiovascular surgery at the Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, D.C. from 1962 - 1966. During that period, he also served as Senior Surgeon and Chief of the Peripheral Vascular Disease Section of the United States Public Health Service from 1962 - 1966. In 1963 President John F. Kennedy assigned Dr. Simmons to the task force for planning the National Stroke Congress, following Simmons treatment for stroke of the Presidents father, Joseph Kennedy. In 1969 he received his Masters of Science in Public Health from the University Of Missouri School Of Medicine, where he was also a professor of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery. Dr. Simmons simultaneously served as a professor of bioengineering at the University Of Missouri School Of Engineering. In 1969 he was elected Senior Fellow for advanced training in coronary artery and open heart surgery at the Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. In 1972 he was appointed Chief of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery at the University of Missouri Medical Center. After returning to Alabama in 1973 to enter private practice, Dr. Simmons opened a cardiovascular, pulmonary and thoracic surgical practice, and served as Chief of Surgery at Jackson Hospital in Montgomery from 1983-1985. Board-certified in general surgery, cardiovascular surgery, thoracic surgery, and pulmonary surgery, Dr. Simmons authored over 60 surgical publications and medical studies. Dr. Simmons lectured extensively abroad, including studies and lectures in France, Switzerland, Great Britain, Russia, and Scandinavia. In his spare time, Dr. Simmons was a licensed aircraft pilot and was active in numerous local organizations and charities. Dr. Simmons is survived by his wife of 55 years, Geraldean Elkins Simmons; by his children, Denise Simmons of Montgomery, Dr. Malcolm Simmons, III (Kelly) of Birmingham, Cheryl Simmons Baird (Jason) of Montgomery, and Chris Simmons (Mary) of Montgomery; and by his five grandsons, Andrew Simmons, Parker Simmons and Tyler Simmons, all of Birmingham, and Scott Simmons and Brown Simmons of Montgomery. He will be missed by his beloved family. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society and to Catholic Charities.