Former Port Jervis Councilman, Orange County Legislator, and County Commissioner of Jurors Dennis Simmons passed away at home on Aug. 22. He was 65.
Simmons, a Port Jervis resident, was also a 44-year member of the Port Jervis Fire Department, the last 9 years of which he served at Excelsior Engine Company No. 5, the department said on its Facebook page.
Port Jervis Mayor Kelly Decker called him a “true patriot,” and someone who “would not hesitate to go out of his way to make sure that someone was taken care of.”
County Executive Steven Neuhaus said Simmons was very patriotic, cared deeply about veterans, and “contributed to his community in a variety of ways.”
“Orange County is certainly better off because of his service to our residents,” he said in a statement.
The Port Jervis Council has recently suffered two deaths. Commenting on the loss of Simmons, Councilman Frank Bell in April, and Councilman Robert Ritchie last week, Port Jervis Councilman Stanley Siegel said, “That is a void that will be hard to fill.”
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