Patricia Marie Simons

Patricia Marie (Trish) Simons, 71, passed peacefully surrounded by family on Tuesday, September 22, 2026 in Bel Air, MD, following a battle with cancer.

Born in Pipestone Minnesota, Trish lived briefly in Lincoln Nebraska before moving to Wilmington Delaware where she attended The Padua Academy. Trish fell in love with Theatre while majoring in Art at The University of Delaware and moved to New York City to make a career as a Stagehand on Broadway. One of the first women in IATSE Local 1, she paved the way for future generations. She spent her early years working the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular and other large events like the MTV Video Music Awards and concerts at the Metropolitan Opera House; going on the road with shows to other east coast cities, and working props on shows like Jelly’s Last Jam. Because of her impressive resume, hard work, and creativity, she was selected as the Head Prop Person at the Barrymore Theatre, and later the Plymouth (Schoenfeld) Theatre.

She had an impressive Career working with big name stars, like Judy Densch, Gregory Hines, Al Pacino, and others, but remained down to earth. She was a hard working do-it-yourselfer, replacing a roof by herself, refinishing hardwood floors, and crafting things like realistic clay Hamantaschen as closing gifts for the cast and crew of the Allergists Wife. She was an incredible mother and grandmother, supporting her kid even if it meant driving two hours to watch a game. She loved animals. In addition to always having cats, she raised two ducks after finding a baby abandoned by it’s mother.

In her spare time, Sailing was her passion. Watching older Girl Scouts sail, as a child, Trish always wanted to learn. As an adult, she took lessons with the sailing club TASCA in Flushing Meadows Corona Park. Her daughter remembers fondly, practicing knots over and over. She and her dear husband Bob Simons met during a shared cue during the Liza Minelli show, but bonded and fell in love over Sailing. Together, they sailed their own boat in the Gulf of Mexico, the Long Island sound, and up the Intercostal through New York Harbor. They also chartered sailboats around the world, in the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand; and sailed with family friends to Bermuda.

She and her daughter made annual trips to Hernando Beach, Florida in her Sky Blue 1989 Firebird. She loved that car. Ultimately, she and Bob retired to Hernando Beach to enjoy the glorious sunsets from their boat tied up on their own backyard dock.

With worsening hurricane seasons and health, she and Bob returned to the Mid-Atlantic to be close to family in Maryland and Delaware. Her large family is grateful for that time they had together and will miss her dearly.

She is survived by her husband of 30 years Bob Simons, daughters Carla Russo (late Nicholas Russo), and Bridgette Walsh (Matt), and son Travis Simons (Becky). She is also survived by her mother Carla Barkley, and four siblings: Teresa McLaughlin (Donald), Greg Barkley (Jill), Barb Maynard (Danny), and Dan Barkley (Kim) and pre-deceased by her father Pat Barkley. She is also survived by her grandchildren: Olivia and Josephine Russo, Adrienne and Elliot Forrest, Simon Walsh, and Alex Simons; and Great Grandchildren Tylyn and Azai Forrest.