Russell G. Simpson Was Devoted to Public Service

Russell Gordon Simpson, a longtime summer resident of Cooke street in Edgartown, died Monday, August 2, in Coral Gables, Fla. He was born May 22, 1927, to Archer Roberts Simpson and Maude Ethel (Gordon) in Springfield. Mr. Simpson was widely respected as a lawyer, for his commitment to public and civic service and for his passion for international humanitarian causes.

After graduating from The Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, N.J., he enlisted in the Navy and was on the eve of being shipped to the Pacific war zone when World War II ended.

In 1951, he was graduated from Yale University and worked for several years for the Burden-Bryant Company, a family-owned business in Springfield. In 1957, he earned a J.D. from Boston University and joined Goodwin Procter, where he developed a broad general practice in corporate and international law.

During his legal career he served as a director of numerous public, private and charitable organizations representing a wide range of industries. He held various positions with the Massachusetts Bar Association, served on the Republican State Committee, was an elected town meeting member and chairman of the finance committee in Milton, where he and his family lived for more than 20 years.

In 1987, Mr. Simpson retired from Goodwin Procter and devoted the remainder of his life to public and nonprofit service. That year he and his wife of nearly 50 years, Bickley (Flower), moved to Brattleboro, Vt., where he served as senior advisor to the president of the Experiment in International Living (now World Learning). For four years he oversaw the development of educational and exchange programs in the Soviet Union and the socialist countries of Eastern Europe. From 1991 to 2002, he was a trustee of World Learning.

In 1993, Mr. Simpson became senior advisor to the president of Save the Children Federation (USA), in Westport, Conn. His particular assignment was to foster cooperation between worldwide Save the Children organizations so that their collective relief efforts could be maximized. The success of this work was a source of pride and personal fulfillment to Mr. Simpson. From 1995 to 2002, he was a board member of both the U.S. organization and the International Save the Children Alliance.

By this time he and his wife had moved to Jupiter Island, Fla., where he became a director of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach and Martin Counties. In 1993, he was elected mayor of Jupiter Island and served in that capacity until 1999. In 2002, he and his wife moved to Coral Gables, Fla., to be near a daughter.

In addition to receiving commendations for distinguished service to World Learning and Save the Children, Mr. Simpson was named as one of Ten Outstanding Young Men of Greater Boston in 1963. In 1976, the SEC commended him for uncovering corporate fraud in a major corporation.

Over the years, he enjoyed golf, skiing and boating, but his favorite pastimes were travel and fishing off Martha's Vineyard. Being near the ocean, anywhere, gave him great pleasure and peace.

Mr. Simpson's health began to fail in 2002. His family, friends and coworkers from around the world remember him fondly for his wry humor and infectious smile, his graciousness, his calm reason in the midst of a crisis, for his integrity, his honed negotiating skills and for a life lived fully and joyously.

In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three daughters, Barrie Simpson of San Francisco, Lisa Pires-Fernandes of Miami, and Helen Blair Simpson of New York city; by his sister, Beverly Simpson of Boston, by eight grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

The family invites friends and associates to a memorial service at Milton Academy, Wigglesworth Hall, 170 Centre Street on Saturday, Sept. 18, at 11:30 a.m.

It was Mr. Simpson's wish that memorial gifts be made to Save the Children's Halaby-Murphy Fund which provides immediate support for children in crisis: Attn: Peggy Blackburn, 54 Wilton Rd, Westport, CT, 06880.