Brian Patrick Simms

Brian Patrick Simms, age 40, passed away on January 29, 2024, in San Antonio, Texas. He was preceded in death by his mother Mary Margaret (Simank) Simms in 2004, sister Jenny Anne Simms in 2021, brother Adam Bradley Simms in 2022, Grandma Helen Anna (Heye) Simank in 2002, Grandpa Samuel Cleveland Simms Jr in 2008, and Grandma Elizabeth Ann (Loborec) Simms in 2012. He is survived by his loving father Ronald Alan Simms. Like his sister and brother, he was always a very good student and looked for extra things to learn and to do when not in school. In his youth, he enjoyed family trips to Zoos, Water Parks, Six Flags, Fiesta Texas, Sea World, and the Dallas area for visits and fun things to do with grandparents, uncles, aunts, and cousins. Although he did not get to the Dallas area often, he and his relatives had fun memories to recall. Places like Six Flags and Sea World included many performances of many types, with music and dance being a part of many of the shows. In the summer of 1995, Brian and his father enjoyed live performances in Tennessee at Opryland, the Grand Ole Opry at Ryman Auditorium, and Dollywood; they also went to The Alabama Theatre in South Carolina. Some performers they had seen and met in San Antonio theme parks were in several of those live shows and visited with Brian and Ron between shows.

             Brian enjoyed competitions and performances. He became a gymnast at Olympia Gymnastics, competing for 3 seasons in the 7-9 age group, earning many ribbons, medals, plaques, and trophies in all six events and the All-Around. In 1991 at the state meet in Ft. Worth, he tied for All Around Champion of the Texas USGF Class IV (7-9) Novice class. His family enjoyed going to his and his brother Adam’s gymnastics meets throughout Texas, including grandmother Helen Simank, who was truly loved and a great blessing to Brian and to the whole family.

             In his Oak Grove Elementary School era, he began piano lessons in first grade and quickly enjoyed playing piano at school events and out-of-school events. His father got to see his class sing and square dance in an Oak Grove show and was so proud to see Brian enjoy it. He earned many Panther Pride awards. His interest in music extended to playing drums, xylophone, and electric bass guitar. In his MacArthur High School band, he played percussion instruments. In his Middle School days, he was a member of the band, and he had taught himself how to make a CD of his piano playing. One Christmas he gifted a 10-track CD to an aunt and uncle that contained Brian playing Do You Hear What I Hear, Away In A Manger, Angels We Have Heard On High, O’ Little Town Of Bethlehem, Silent Night, What Child Is This?, God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen, Frosty The Snowman, Dance Of The Sugar Plum Fairy, and Alley Cat. As time progressed, he learned more challenging pieces and even played a solo in a concert at college. He enjoyed academic competitions and practiced for them after school with sponsors and other members of his Middle School and High School teams. He won numerous awards in UIL competitions representing Garner MS (including being a State Champion Calculator Team member multiple times) and MacArthur HS. In addition to the UIL competitions, he competed in local and national Latin competitions, the Academic Decathlon, and Band competitions. At MacArthur HS in the year 2000, he graduated Summa Cum Laude in only 3 years instead of the usual 4 years, taking primarily Honors, GT, and AP classes. Brian was a Member of the Senior Board, NHS, Latin Club, and other organizations. One summer he was able to take a brief tour of Italy with Latin classmates and a very special Latin teacher. He was awarded a Trustee Scholarship to the University of Southern California, which also included a semester of study at La Sorbonne in Paris, France. He learned to do many things on computer devices and electronic keyboards. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing the domino game “42” with special friends and family. In 1997, he was Confirmed at Christ Lutheran Church of Alamo Heights.

             Unfortunately, his adult life eventually became dominated by a disabling, incurable illness called Huntington’s Disease, which made his lifelong dreams impossible. When his health allowed, Brian would attend meetings of the San Antonio Accordion Association, the San Antonio Ragtime Society, and various Christmas Concerts at church with his father. For much of his adulthood, his father took care of him, but eventually his father could not continue caring for Brian at home, and Brian needed nursing homes for 24/7 care and changes in his health needs. Sadly, many caregivers and administrators at nursing homes do not have real, in-person experience or knowledge of Huntington’s Disease, causing several facilities that had accepted him to get rid of him, sometimes even without a “safe discharge”, instead of caring for him as his forever home, as was intended when they accepted him.

             Many thanks to family and friends that loved Brian in sickness and in health. Many thanks to the caregivers and medical community that did help Brian in times of his great need.

 I will always love you Brian. Love, Dad

 If you would like to give a gift in honor or memory of Brian, the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA.org) tries to help affected families and to help find a cure.