Edward Simsarian

Worcester – Edward D. Simsarian, a lawyer who practiced in Worcester for more than sixty-five years, died at Rose Monahan Hospice Home on July 11, 2023, after a brief battle with Multiple Myeloma with Amyloidosis. He was 98.

Edward was born in 1924 in New Jersey, the son of Dicran and Satenig (Tashjian) Simsarian. He was a graduate of Fort Lee (N.J.) High School, Princeton University and Harvard Law School.

He served in the Army in World War II as a message center clerk at Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force in France and Germany. Upon his discharge from service he completed his college and law school education, and was admitted to the bars of New York and Massachusetts and the United States Supreme Court. He practiced in New York and Boston before moving to Worcester, where he joined the firm of Ryan & Tashjian, later Tashjian, Simsarian & Wickstrom, engaged in the general practice of law. He was in active practice as a partner in Tashjian Simsarian, retiring in 2019.

A past president of the Worcester County Bar Association and the Legal Aid Society of Worcester, he received the Bishop Bernard J. Flanagan Ecumenical Award of the Saint Thomas More Society of Worcester County. He served as chairman of the Probate Law Section of the Massachusetts Bar Association and was a participant in many of its seminars. He was a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel. He served as a member of the Massachusetts Clients’ Security Board, on a Hearing Committee of the Board of Bar Overseers, on the boards of Children’s Friend, Dynamy, Friends of the Goddard Library, Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Music Worcester, Shepherd Knapp School, United Way of Central Massachusetts, Worcester County Mechanics Association, and as Clerk and a member of the Prudential Committee of the First Unitarian Church.

Cape Cod was a favorite haunt of his family during their summer vacations. Ed enjoyed salt water fishing. The first fish he ever caught was a 65 pound tuna, and that hooked him as well as the fish, but he rarely caught any more fish, despite many tries. He also made wine, which was less productive than the fishing, but he tried. He and his wife Lolly made several trips to France and Italy, where the wines were much better.

He is survived by his daughters, Ellen of New York City, Sarah, of New York City and Worcester, and his son, David, and his grandchildren, Colin, Devin, Lane and Cole, of Yarmouth, Maine. His wife Lowerre (Lolly) and his son Edward (Ned) predeceased him.

Callahan, Fay & Caswell Life Celebration Home is assisting the family. There are no calling hours. A memorial service will be held at 12:00PM, Noon at the First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester, MA on Saturday, September 30, 2023. To watch the service on line, please email: edsimsmemorial@gmail.com to receive the YouTube link.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that contributions be made to First Unitarian Church, 90 Main Street, Worcester, MA 01608 (www.firstunitarian.com); Joy of Music Program, 1 Gorham Street, Worcester, MA 01605 (www.jomp.org); Community Legal Aid, 370 Main Street, Suite 200, Worcester, MA 01608 (www.comunitylegal.org); Rose Monahan Hospice Home c/o: VNA Care, 67 Millbrook Street, Worcester, MA 01606 (www.vnacare.org/donors); or to a charity of the donor’s choice.