Winningest High School Golf Coach, Bob Simons, passed away in April 2025 at the age of 77 after 54 seasons leading the Wallenpaupack Area High School golf team.
The heartbreaking news of his death comes just a month after the first anniversary of his wife Ann Marie’s passing in March 2024.
Meanwhile, Bob Simons is survived by his daughter, Bridget Donovan, and son-in-law Scott, as well as her grandchildren, Ryan and Emma Donovan.
Born on September 24, 1966, to Margaret Jean Gilhool and Harold Gilhool, Ann Marie passed away on March 30, 2024, at 57, at the Ellen Memorial Health Care Center after a courageous battle with cancer.
Simons’ contributions extended beyond golf. He coached girls’ basketball at Wallenpaupack, spanning junior high, junior varsity, and varsity teams until 1999.
It was through basketball that he met his wife, Ann Marie, a fellow coach.
Simons and Ann married on August 1, 1992, and shared a daughter, Bridget.
Together, they were both honored with the Joseph M. Butler Memorial Award; Bob in 2021 and Ann Marie posthumously in June 2024, for their significant contributions to high school athletics.
Ann served as an Athletic Director at Wallenpaupack High School and was an active member of PSADA (Pennsylvania Athletic Directors Association).
She also served on the Board of Directors of the Honesdale Golf Club and as President of the Hilltop Village Association.
We offer our heartfelt condolences to Simons’ daughter, friends, loved ones, and extended family.
Bob Simons Had a Successful Teaching Career of Over Two Decades!
Born on December 12, 1948, in Honesdale, Bob Simons found his passion for golf as a caddy at Honesdale Golf Club.
A standout athlete himself, he captured the District 12 individual championship during his senior year at Honesdale High School in 1966.
During his time at Bloomsburg University, Simons competed in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Championships and the NAIA Tournament.
After graduating from Bloomsburg University, he joined the Wallenpaupack Area School District.
Bob Simons had a successful teaching career over two decades; he served as a sixth-grade teacher for 25 years. Later, he also worked as a disciplinarian for a decade before retiring in 2005.
His tenure as a head golf coach began in 1972. Over 54 years, Simons amassed a career record of 682-239-23, with no losing seasons.
Under his leadership, the Buckhorns secured four Wayne County League championships, six Lackawanna League titles, two District 2 championships, and eight District 12 team titles.
Likewise, his teams qualified for the playoffs 30 times and made multiple appearances at the state tournament.
Simons also coached nine individual district champions and six winners of the Jackman Memorial Tournament. In 2021, he renamed the Bob Simons Classic in his honor when it moved to Elkview Country Club.
