Larry Lee Simms ’66

Larry Lee Simms ’66 of Great Falls, Virginia, passed away on January 11 at home with family after a long illness. Larry was born in Dalton, Georgia, and grew up in Chattanooga, Tennessee. A member of Delta Psi Delta and Navy ROTC at Dartmouth, he served four years in the U.S. Navy as a communications officer. He attended law school at Boston University, where he was editor-in-chief of the Law Review and went on to clerk for Judge James Oakes, of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit, and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Byron White. His legal career continued at the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, the U.S. Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel, then the firm of Gibson, Dunn, and Crutcher. He also served as adjunct professor at Georgetown University Law Center, teaching the First Amendment. Larry lived a rich life, traveling widely. A trip to China in 1993 inspired him to found the Washington Beijing Scholastic Exchange. He restored his log cabin home, built a second home in Chappaquiddick, Massachusetts, loved folk and country music, and was a fan of the Orioles, the Red Sox, soccer, and horse racing. Larry was a mentor to many young lawyers. His working years were characterized by brilliance, integrity, and drive. His last years demonstrated grace and acceptance as he dealt with progressive neurologic decline. Larry is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elisabeth; son Nathaniel; daughter Anna and her husband, Jeffrey; twin brother Richard and his wife, Lori; and extended family.