On my birthday this year, my sister, brother and I honored my Dad’s wishes to have his ashes scattered by plane. My brother had a friend from his sky-diving days who owned a small airport in Ottawa, IL and graciously agreed to assist us in scattering Dad’s remains over the airfield. The man doing the release videoed his prospective from the plane so I was able to stitch together this video combining our view from the ground and his from the air. It was emotional and perfect.
Afterwards we split a martini (shaken, not stirred – my Dad’s favorite) and opened a bottle of champagne as we watched 80 sky-divers who were trying to set a record swoop down all around us.
Obituary for Manliff “Manny” Simpson
April 4, 1942 – August 2, 2022
Manliff M. Simpson, affectionately known as “Manny,” was born April 4, 1942, in Chicago, Illinois, and passed away peacefully on August 2, 2022, in Florida, at the age of 80.
He is survived by his children, Leandra (Eric) Ganko, Lauren (Michael) Mazur, and Ryan (Emily) Simpson; his sisters, Veda (Doug) Meyer and Kim Grahame; and six grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife of 35 years, Eileen, who passed in 2006.
Manny graduated with a double major in Political Science and Zoology from the University of Illnois-Urbana, then joined the Marine Corps in September 1964. He flew over 350 combat missions in Vietnam as an F4 fighter pilot before his honorable discharge with a rank of Captain in March 1969. Manny received the following decorations during his military service: National Defense Service Medal; Vietnam Service Medal w/2*; Air Medal (13th award); Vietnam Campaign Medal with device; Navy Commendation Medal w/ Combat “V”; Presidential Unit Citation, Distinguished Flying Cross. Later, he would go on to assist in creating the Red River Valley Fighter Pilots Association and the Air Warrior Courage Foundation.
After his military service, Manny ran a successful law firm in Chicago, IL for over 40 years before transitioning to co-owning several Saturn dealerships in the greater Chicago-land area. During this time, he also served as Secretary at the Medinah Country Club and golfed as much as possible. In his last decade, he had retired full time to River Wilderness, in Parrish, FL, to enjoy good food and fine wine with his “Wine Geeks,” share impossible stories of his youth with his kids and grandkids, and sip his nightly martini.
A Celebration of Life service was held in the Club at River Wilderness on Sunday, September 11th, 2022 from 2:00-4:00PM.
