Dorothy (Dot) French Simard passed away on December 1, 2014, at the age of 62, in East Derry, New Hampshire following a long illness. Dot was born on May 7, 1952 in Dorchester, Massachusetts, where she spent her early childhood before moving to Florida. Dot returned to New England, settling in Derry, New Hampshire and was a graduate of Pinkerton Academy in Derry, NH (1971). While attending Pinkerton Academy, she made lifelong friends who make it a point to get together each summer to celebrate the good old days. This group of friends is affectionately referred to as the Village Girls. On March 25, 1972, Dot married George Simard, Jr. The two spent the early years of their marriage in Florida, where again lifelong friendships were formed as wives learned to cook and manage households for their husbands. Dot and George relocated to East Derry, New Hampshire to be closer to family. Together Dot and George had two children, Cristy Simard and Shawn Simard. Cristy gave them two beautiful grandchildren, Andrew Minzner and Kristin Minzner. Dot held a special fondness for all of her nieces and nephews, but her relationship with her niece Shannon Hueber was truly special.
Dot loved to travel and was always willing to hop on a plane to experience a new culture, lifestyle, or landscape. Dot and George shared this love and would often get in the car and drive, just to see where they ended up. And if it was a nice, warm day, then the two could be seen cruising around on a Harley Davidson. During the summer, the family spent most of the time at their Wells, Maine home away from home.
Dot held many positions in her adult life – banking, chocolate buyer – but it was her passion for advocating on behalf of students with disabilities that prompted her to leave the workforce and form a non-profit, Education-A-Must. Dot volunteered as the founder, director, lead advocate, and web designer for the organization. Dot's contribution to the betterment of the lives of children with disabilities in New Hampshire is immeasurable. Not only was she a tireless and effective advocate for decades, she also assisted and mentored many other advocates. In 2001, Dot received the Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service for her outstanding contribution to the New Hampshire community. In 2004, Dot received the Richard S. Lockhart Memorial Award from the Greater Seacoast United Way for her extraordinary contributions to improve the quality of life on New Hampshire's Seacoast. In 2010 Dot was invited to the White House to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Dot is predeceased by her parents, Wayne G. and Frances E. French, father-in-law, George Simard, Sr., mother-in-law, Christine Simard, and brother-in-law, Robert Simard. Dot is survived by her husband George Simard, Jr., her daughter, Cristy Simard, her son, Shawn Simard, her grandchildren, Andrew Minzner and Kristin Minzner, her niece Shannon (James) Hueber, brother-in-law Alan (Trina) Simard, sister-in-law, Donna (Douglas) Ball, many nieces and nephews, and many, many friends.
Following cremation, calling hours were held Friday, December 5th from 4 – 7pm at the Peabody Funeral Homes and Crematorium, 15 Birch St., Derry. A memorial service followed at 7:00pm in the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to The Rachel Carson Council, The American Cancer Society, or a charity of one’s choice.