Bert Simmons
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Bert Simmons was born in Chatham and lived his whole life in the Maple City. He attended the Chatham Vocational School until grade 11 and the ripe old age of 17, when he enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy to serve in the Second World War. After a two month training stay in Halifax he would board the H.M.C.S. Iroquois and stay on it for the duration of the war. He was part of engagements in the Bay of Biscay, the North Atlantic, the English Channel and Russia.
He returned to Canada in 1945 and entered Ryerson where he completed his architectural drafting courses but had difficulty getting work in his chosen field. He returned to Chatham and took a position with the Donaldson Company and painted for them for two years before moving into the purchasing department. He remained a buyer for them and saw the company change owners to Fram, then Bendix, then Bendix Allied and finally Siemens. Bert retired in 1987.
In 1949 he met and married Betty and after raising two daughters, Susan and Shelley, became involved with the Maroons and their new owner Roy Bruhlman. After starting off by selling programs Bert became Roy’s right man. He has literally done everything for the Maroons than one person could do. He attended meetings, took care of club house duties and boarded players and checked up on them at their various schools. After 12 years with the Maroons and over 40 years with Siemens, Bert retired to pursue golf. He has been a member of the Ridgetown Golf Club since 1951 and was their Game Chairperson, Junior Golf Instructor and sat on the Board of Directors.
Currently, he works part time at the Chatham Golf and Fun Centre and enjoys being a grandfather to his three grandchildren Jason, Josh and Amy