A father of three and grandfather of five, Simms and his wife Gail moved in 2006 from their home in the Catskill mountains to their new home town of Ventura, California.
When Simms was not busy working on children’s books, he could often be found enjoying long walks along the beaches of Ventura with his dog Buddy, out and about exploring new and interesting variations of all things chocolate, and with his lovely wife Gail, staying current with most every new motion picture.
On December 25, 2011, Simms died peacefully in his home surrounded by family and friends. His work and books continue to inspire children, artists, designers and fans the world over.