The San Marino community is mourning the passing of former City Councilwoman and Mayor Rosemary “Rary” Simmons, whose kindness and goodwill were described as “a gift” that was like magic, and it was felt everywhere she went.
She died at 92 years old on Thanksgiving Day.
Simmons’ magic in San Marino followed her all the way to City Hall in 1982 as she stepped into history as the first woman to serve on City Council and as mayor in 1986.
“She was extraordinary, but to us she was ordinary,” daughter Ann Boutin told the Tribune. “She was just our mom, and I don’t know that we fully appreciated how extraordinary she was to the community and the people she touched. We took that for granted, but now we see how amazing she truly was.”
In her work life, her daughters said she had a very public and professional persona that could be characterized as “magnanimous,” but at home, she had a goofy side as the “willing fall guy” for family-told jokes.
During her time in public office, Simmons had a mission to bring paramedics to the city, a goal that sprung from tragedy after her 3-year-old son was hit and killed by a car in 1961.
Simmons knew it was imperative to have paramedics close by to save lives. She herself had sat in the street, holding her dying son as she waited for the paramedics, who did not arrive in time.
After stepping down from City Council in 1992, Simmons kept up with her passion for charity work. Among her beloved causes was the Pasadena Junior Philharmonic, which she joined in 1962. It is here that she helped found the Pasadena Showcase House for the Arts in 1965 and later became Showcase House chair and then its president. Concurrently, she served as room mother for each of her children, was a member of each of the PTA boards, and ultimately served as the president of the San Marino PTSA Council. Along the way, she served as Grad Night chair, one of her favorite endeavors.
She served as a member of the Huntington Hospital Board and remained active until her death as the first Emerita member. She was also an Emerita member on the Occidental College board of trustees, having served at her alma matter for 28 years. She also loved serving as the schedule person for the volunteers at the L.A. Coliseum Hospitality tent during the 1984 Olympics.
As much as Simmons felt a sense of duty to volunteerism, it came second to the needs of her family.
“Despite all of this charity work, we never came home to an empty house, she was always here,” Boutin said. “Our front door was always open and my mom was always home. If you were sick, she would stay home with you and bring you your little TV tray and chicken noodle soup.”
Simmons was not only the glue of the family, but also had the ability to make others feel at home.
“This is kind of an iconic house, it’s been here since 1956 — but it wasn’t because of the house, it was because of her,” daughter Evelyn Boss said. “We had an open-door policy and all of our friends would come and hang out — even if we weren’t there. They stopped in to see Rary. We underestimated her and thought she was just kind of a fun mom. I certainly didn’t realize until later how much she had done for other people. It wasn’t until I was an adult.”
Growing up and even in adulthood, Simmons’ children — Frank, Greg, Bart, Evelyn and Ann — knew too well that if they were out in public, people were bound to approach them in the street to gush about their mom.
“It was just a given that we would be stopped by several people who wanted to talk to her or wanted to let her know how grateful they were for something she did,” Boutin said. “Even if she wasn’t there with us, we would be stopped to get told by people how much they loved our mother, and we would nod our heads and say we loved her, too.”
Boss added: “We could use her name as a talisman. She was the epitome of social capital. She created so much good will that it filtered down to us. We were the beneficiaries of the good will she created and hope to live up to, but can’t seem to get that close.”
Even now, after Simmons’ death, her magic can still be felt by those who knew her. Her friends described a woman who gave selflessly.
Jaynie Studenmund has long felt the power of Simmons’ friendship, particularly during perhaps her family’s most heartbreaking period in 2014, when Studenmund’s 24-year-old son Scott, a Green Beret, was killed in Afghanistan.
Studenmund recalled her longtime friend being one of the first to comfort her family at their home. After the loss of Eric “Ricky,” Simmons was no stranger to losing a son.
To further show her support, Simmons, in her 80s at the time, traveled by herself to attend the service for Scott in Washington, D.C. The act of love was a testament to how far she would go, literally and figuratively, for the people she cared about.
“There are a lot of wonderful people in our world, but there was only one Rary Simmons, and our world is a better place because she lived here. I can’t think of another person who is like Rary,” Studenmund said.
“Whatever it took, whatever the situation was — be it for a board, family or friendship — she was there, she was all in.”
Even in times of sorrow, Simmons had a way of lightening the hearts of those around her. She was “charismatic” and “full of life,” Studenmund said.
“All of my son’s Green Beret friends fell in love with her,” she said. “They recognized right away that she was this shining light in the middle of a very difficult situation. … Regardless of who you were, you were very taken with her. She was delightful to be around in a high-quality, engaging and intellectually bright way.”
Additionally, Studenmund said Simmons was one of 14 members who made up a book group that called themselves “The Angels,” a fitting name inspired by friends who wanted to come together to look after Studenmund as a grieving mother. Over the years, however, the group has fostered comfort and support for each and every member.
“We have been angels for each other with any number of things that have happened in life, and I know Rary loved being a member of our book group,” said Studenmund, adding that the group met last month at Simmons’ home to help make sure she was comfortable.
The Simmons-and-Studenmund friendship spanned more than four decades and has held various ties, going back to Occidental College. Studenmund’s husband Woody was a professor there and also a close friend of Simmons. They were also neighbors in the vacation beach community of St. Malo, living right next door to one another for more than 10 years.
Another connection shared between Simmons and Studenmund was Huntington Hospital as board members. Studenmund, who was previously the board chairwoman, had Simmons in her corner.
“I had some pretty big jobs — managing 5,000 people, being one of the top women in several of the companies I worked in and being the most senior woman to have children — and Rary was always cheering me on,” Studenmund said. “She was taking it in stride, but also encouraging me to understand that even though I wanted to have a family, a spouse, give back to the community, have a great career — you can do it, but you have to pace yourself.”
Barbara Bice, Rotary Club of San Marino president, knew Simmons for more than 50 years. They first met when Bice was a teacher at San Marino High School in 1969 and Simmons was heavily involved in the PTA and school community. Their friendship really took off when Simmons invited Bice, who was the director of career education at the time, to speak with the PTA. Similarly, Simmons began volunteering at the career center to help children explore career paths. Eventually, Simmons would be named a Paul Harris Fellow honoree for the Rotary Club of San Marino and be known as an avid supporter of the organization.
“Her 92 years on this Earth blessed her dear family, numerous community organizations and countless other groups over her many years of service,” Bice said. “Her passing on Thanksgiving Day was, in many ways, appropriate because so many of us owe her a huge debt of gratitude for her amazing life and contributions.”
Councilwoman Gretchen Shepherd Romey said Simmons’ legacy has left a lasting impression on the city and beyond.
“After a long life well-lived, decades of outstanding philanthropic service, unwavering devotion to family, friends and San Marino, boundless energy and generosity, trailblazing leadership, Rary leaves a huge void in our community, as well as for her family and friends,” Shepherd Romey said.
“However, much like the herb rosemary, Rary will live on in the hearts of all who knew her, and she will be remembered and serve as an inspiration to us and to generations to come.”
First published in the Dec. 7 issue of the San Marino Tribune
