Guido Simone (1923 - 2009)
Guido Simone 1923 - 2009 AGAWAM - Guido Simone, age 86, of Agawam, MA, passed away Wednesday, June 3, 2009 in Mercy Medical Center, Springfield. Born April 17, 1923 in Watertown, MA, he was a son to the late Felice and Assunta (Viola) Simone. He attended school in Watertown, graduating in 1941. He worked at the Watertown Arsenal for 2 years before entering the service in 1943. While in the service he spent fourteen months on the island of Tinian in the Western Pacific Theater where he worked as a Small Arms Weapons Repairman and was promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. He was on Tinian when the Enola Gay took flight for Hiroshima. Following his discharge in March of 1946, he attended Boston University College of Music earning his Bachelor of Music degree, and was class president of the Musical College. He later earned his Master of Education Degree at Westfield State College. He started his teaching career in Borger, Texas where he taught elementary instrumental and vocal music for 3 years after which he accepted a position as Instrumental Music Instructor in the Malden, MA elementary school system. The following year he accepted the position of elementary and junior high school instrumental instructor in the City of Springfield, a position he held until his retirement in 1979. It was while in Springfield that he became a member of the Springfield Musicians' Union and played trombone with various bands and was for a few seasons the director of the Agawam Legion Band. Raised in Charles C. Spellman Lodge in 1973, he was affiliated with Elm Lodge in 1979. He was a member of all Scottish Rite Bodies, and served as Master of Elm Lodge in 1983 and was later appointed District Deputy Grand Master for the Springfield 33 Masonic district, and awarded the Joseph Warren Medal for distinguished service to Masonry. He was a member of the Melha Temple Military Band since 1973 and was later appointed Director of Music and director of the Military Band, in 1976, a position which he held until 2007. He also served on the Board of Directors of the Shrine Band Association of North America as Vice President and later as President. He has served as adjudicator at Northeast and national band competitions. In 1992 he was awarded the Pro Merito Medal for distinguished service to Melha Temple. He was also very active in the sport of Bowling as a junior coach and later as an administrator on both the local and state levels. He served as Program Director for the Greater Springfield Junior Ten Pin Bowling Assoc. and later as President and Secretary. He served as Director and later as President of the Mass. State Junior Ten Pin Bowling association. While he was very active on the youth level he also was active on the adult level serving as Director and then as President of the Mass. State Ten Pin Bowling Assoc. In 2003 he was inducted into the Mass. State B.A. Hall of Fame. Locally he was elected to the Greater Springfield Board of Directors in 1965, and served on the Board as a Director, Vice President, and in 1978 was elected Secretary - Treasurer of the Association, a position he held until 2008. Guido is survived by his loving wife, Joanne (Cognac, Pepin) Simone; son, Guido R. "Bob" and his significant other, Francoise Wanner; daughter, Martha Klassanos and her husband, Brian. He also leaves his stepsons, Maurice and his wife, Denise, David, Daniel, and Scott Pepin and his wife, Cheryl; grandchildren Alexandra Klassanos, Christine and Richard Pepin; brother, Ernest Colacito and his wife, Sheila; sisters, Virginia Barker and her husband, Bill; Elva Pantyik and her husband, Szilard of Passignano, Italy. A funeral service for Guido will be held Tuesday, June 9, 2009 beginning at 9 AM from Colonial-Forastiere Funeral Home, 985 Main St., Agawam with a Liturgy of Christian Burial, to be celebrated at 10 AM, in St. John the Evangelist Church, Agawam. Burial with military honors will follow in the Massachusetts Veterans' Memorial Cemetery, Agawam. Calling hours will be held on Monday, June 8th from 4 to 8 PM at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Guido's name to Shriner's Hospital, 516 Carew St., Springfield, MA 01104.