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HONESDALE — While today's column is deeply rooted in the local sports world, more than anything else it's a love story.
Our tale features Bob Simons, the shy soft-spoken golf coach who rewrote the PIAA record book, and Ann Marie Gilhool, the bubbly middle school teacher who became the first female athletic director in Wallenpaupack Area history.
Despite a nearly 20 year age gap and wildly different personalities, somehow Bob and Ann Marie just clicked. His quiet intensity meshed seamlessly with her boundless energy, creating a partnership that was wonderful to behold.
Sadly the final chapter in this storybook romance, one that lasted more than three decades, has now been written.
Bob passed away peacefully Easter Sunday morning, surrounded by his loving family but never having truly recovered from losing Ann Marie to cancer last March. He was 76.
More: Junior high wrestling's Battle for the Belt honors the memory of Ann Marie Simons
Also by Kevin Edwards: Wayne County Wanderings: Bob Simons Honored
“Dad just truly couldn’t live without her,” said daughter Bridget, with whom Bob spent the last few months of his remarkable life.
“Knowing that he's no longer suffering is a blessing. Now he and Mom are together again.”
Bob was born on Dec. 12, 1948, to Earl and Ruth (Jackson) Simons of Honesdale.
He attended local schools and competed on the Hornets varsity golf team, winning an individual District 12 title in 1966.
After graduation, Bob headed off to Bloomsburg where he qualified for the PSAC Championships twice and traveled to Texas for the NAIA tournament as a senior.
Bob returned home in 1970 and quickly landed a position at Paupack. He only taught 90 days that first year due to serving an active duty stint with the PA National Guard.
However, when Bob's commitment was up, he took over the golf program and embarked on an unprecedented career.
Before it was over, he'd become the most decorated high school links coach in Commonwealth history.
It's probably safe to say that it will be a very long time before anyone comes close to challenging the résumé Bob compiled across six decades.
Over the course of 54 years as head golf coach at Paupack, Bob had exactly one losing season — and that came just last fall in the wake of Ann Marie's death.
The numbers are nothing short of staggering:
Bob received countless awards and accolades along the way, including having the former Jackman Memorial Tournament renamed in his honor.
The inaugural Bob Simons Classic was held at Elkview Country Club in the fall of 2021, spotlighting top boys players from all over the Lackawanna League.
“It's a great honor,” he said at the time. “I can't thank all the other coaches and the committee enough for thinking of me.”
Mike Silsby is one of Bob's oldest friends.
“We have a unique history,” said Silsby, who served as superintendent of the Wallenpaupack Area School District for more than two decades.
“I was a member of his very first varsity golf team back in 1972. So, he started off as my coach. Then, we were teachers together in the middle school and our friendship just really grew over the years.”
Bob eventually asked Silsby to be best man when he and Ann Marie married in August of 1992. It was a joyous occasion, one that seems like just yesterday to Silsby who can't believe his old friend is gone.
“Bob was an absolute gentleman,” Silsby said. “He cared so much about the kids and was just so dedicated. Bob was a fierce competitor. He always wanted to win, but he had a heart of gold. There's going to be a huge void in the school and community now that he's gone.”
Joann Hudak was an administrator at Paupack for many years. She closed out her career in education as assistant superintendent under Silsby.
One of the very first moves she made when first appointed middle school principal was recruiting Bob to serve as her dean of students.
“His ability to connect with the kids, the staff and the families was truly unmatched,” Hudak said.
“At that time, his beloved wife Ann Marie was also teaching and together they were a powerhouse. Their strength, dedication and unwavering commitment to students had a profound impact on me.”
Travis Ey is the current athletic director at Paupack. He worked closely with Simons during the twilight of the legendary coach's record-setting career.
“Bob was the cornerstone of the golf community in northeastern PA for more than 50 years,” Ey said.
“The positive impact he had on the young men and women over his time at Wallenpaupack is just immeasurable. He was a genuinely kind man.”
John Pillar won an individual district title with Simons as his coach back in the mid 1980s. Pillar went on to play professionally, even competing at the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open.
He's been the head pro at Woodloch Springs for more than three decades now.
“I owe him such a huge debt of gratitude,” said Pillar, whose three sons also played for Simons. “Bob loved kids and loved coaching. He was a legend and an inspiration to so many people. I can't thank him enough for the profound influence he had on my life.”
Ann Marie and I were friends since childhood. I was overjoyed to see the deep connection she formed with Bob and the beautiful little family they created together.
Bob and I worked together many times through the years and he never ceased to amaze me. Bob was one of those coaches who just “got it.” He never uttered a bad word about a kid, chewed out an opposing coach or questioned the integrity of an official.
Golf is a gentleman's game and Bob personified qualities inherent in the game: honesty, respect, patience and discipline. He was humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
Bob was that once-in-a-lifetime coach who didn't just set records, he set an outstanding example for the hundreds of student-athletes he mentored over the course of a half-century.
Here's hoping that he and Ann Marie are teeing it up right now on the front nine of some heavenly course in the sky — together again, just as Bridget said.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wallenpaupack Area golf coach Bob Simons dies PIAA record holder
Continue reading...
Our tale features Bob Simons, the shy soft-spoken golf coach who rewrote the PIAA record book, and Ann Marie Gilhool, the bubbly middle school teacher who became the first female athletic director in Wallenpaupack Area history.
Despite a nearly 20 year age gap and wildly different personalities, somehow Bob and Ann Marie just clicked. His quiet intensity meshed seamlessly with her boundless energy, creating a partnership that was wonderful to behold.
Sadly the final chapter in this storybook romance, one that lasted more than three decades, has now been written.
Bob passed away peacefully Easter Sunday morning, surrounded by his loving family but never having truly recovered from losing Ann Marie to cancer last March. He was 76.
More: Junior high wrestling's Battle for the Belt honors the memory of Ann Marie Simons
Also by Kevin Edwards: Wayne County Wanderings: Bob Simons Honored
“Dad just truly couldn’t live without her,” said daughter Bridget, with whom Bob spent the last few months of his remarkable life.
“Knowing that he's no longer suffering is a blessing. Now he and Mom are together again.”
Setting the stage
Bob was born on Dec. 12, 1948, to Earl and Ruth (Jackson) Simons of Honesdale.
He attended local schools and competed on the Hornets varsity golf team, winning an individual District 12 title in 1966.
After graduation, Bob headed off to Bloomsburg where he qualified for the PSAC Championships twice and traveled to Texas for the NAIA tournament as a senior.
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Bob returned home in 1970 and quickly landed a position at Paupack. He only taught 90 days that first year due to serving an active duty stint with the PA National Guard.
However, when Bob's commitment was up, he took over the golf program and embarked on an unprecedented career.
Before it was over, he'd become the most decorated high school links coach in Commonwealth history.
All alone at the top
It's probably safe to say that it will be a very long time before anyone comes close to challenging the résumé Bob compiled across six decades.
Over the course of 54 years as head golf coach at Paupack, Bob had exactly one losing season — and that came just last fall in the wake of Ann Marie's death.
The numbers are nothing short of staggering:
- 682 career wins, first all-time in PIAA history.
- 2 District 2 titles
- 4 Wayne League titles
- 6 Lackawanna League championships
- 8 District 12 titles
- 9 Individual district champions
You must be registered for see images attach
Bob received countless awards and accolades along the way, including having the former Jackman Memorial Tournament renamed in his honor.
The inaugural Bob Simons Classic was held at Elkview Country Club in the fall of 2021, spotlighting top boys players from all over the Lackawanna League.
“It's a great honor,” he said at the time. “I can't thank all the other coaches and the committee enough for thinking of me.”
Heartfelt tributes
Mike Silsby is one of Bob's oldest friends.
“We have a unique history,” said Silsby, who served as superintendent of the Wallenpaupack Area School District for more than two decades.
“I was a member of his very first varsity golf team back in 1972. So, he started off as my coach. Then, we were teachers together in the middle school and our friendship just really grew over the years.”
You must be registered for see images attach
Bob eventually asked Silsby to be best man when he and Ann Marie married in August of 1992. It was a joyous occasion, one that seems like just yesterday to Silsby who can't believe his old friend is gone.
“Bob was an absolute gentleman,” Silsby said. “He cared so much about the kids and was just so dedicated. Bob was a fierce competitor. He always wanted to win, but he had a heart of gold. There's going to be a huge void in the school and community now that he's gone.”
Joann Hudak was an administrator at Paupack for many years. She closed out her career in education as assistant superintendent under Silsby.
One of the very first moves she made when first appointed middle school principal was recruiting Bob to serve as her dean of students.
“His ability to connect with the kids, the staff and the families was truly unmatched,” Hudak said.
“At that time, his beloved wife Ann Marie was also teaching and together they were a powerhouse. Their strength, dedication and unwavering commitment to students had a profound impact on me.”
Travis Ey is the current athletic director at Paupack. He worked closely with Simons during the twilight of the legendary coach's record-setting career.
“Bob was the cornerstone of the golf community in northeastern PA for more than 50 years,” Ey said.
You must be registered for see images attach
“The positive impact he had on the young men and women over his time at Wallenpaupack is just immeasurable. He was a genuinely kind man.”
John Pillar won an individual district title with Simons as his coach back in the mid 1980s. Pillar went on to play professionally, even competing at the U.S. Open and U.S. Senior Open.
He's been the head pro at Woodloch Springs for more than three decades now.
“I owe him such a huge debt of gratitude,” said Pillar, whose three sons also played for Simons. “Bob loved kids and loved coaching. He was a legend and an inspiration to so many people. I can't thank him enough for the profound influence he had on my life.”
Into the sunset
Ann Marie and I were friends since childhood. I was overjoyed to see the deep connection she formed with Bob and the beautiful little family they created together.
Bob and I worked together many times through the years and he never ceased to amaze me. Bob was one of those coaches who just “got it.” He never uttered a bad word about a kid, chewed out an opposing coach or questioned the integrity of an official.
Golf is a gentleman's game and Bob personified qualities inherent in the game: honesty, respect, patience and discipline. He was humble in victory and gracious in defeat.
Bob was that once-in-a-lifetime coach who didn't just set records, he set an outstanding example for the hundreds of student-athletes he mentored over the course of a half-century.
Here's hoping that he and Ann Marie are teeing it up right now on the front nine of some heavenly course in the sky — together again, just as Bridget said.
This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Wallenpaupack Area golf coach Bob Simons dies PIAA record holder
Continue reading...
