Dr. Eugene "Gene" Stephen Simko passed away Tuesday, June 12th. Simko was an Associate Professor and published author at the Leon Hess Business School and the Faculty Council Chair of Monmouth University, where he recently celebrated 40 years of teaching.
He attended the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, received a BBA in Economics from Temple University, an MBA in Management Science from Temple University, and a PhD in Strategic Management from Baruch College of the City University of New York. Simko held a commission in the United States Army Reserve, Adjutant General’s Corps, 1/309 78DIV(TNG). His retirement dreams included returning to his beloved West Point to teach for a semester (and don’t you forget: GO ARMY, BEAT NAVY!).
Ultimately, Simko’s professional advice to his children was this: "Find a job that you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life." He truly lived this theory day in and day out, and his family is eternally grateful for the joy that the Monmouth University community brought him.
In addition to his academic career, Simko was an active member on the Battleship New Jersey Commission and foundation, the group that was responsible for bringing the ship back to NJ from Panama, a historic moment in which he was extremely proud to take part. He served on the Board of Trustees for the Home Port Alliance for the USS New Jersey and recently finished two Bofors 40mm gun models to replicate two restored guns recently placed on the Battleship.
Simko also served as an Associate Member of the Association of Graduates, US Military Academy. Dr. Simko was serving as Treasurer of the West Point Society of NJ, providing financial guidance and tracking various funds used to support US Military Academy events here in NJ. He was also instrumental in sponsoring and awarding the Society’s Dwight D. Eisenhower Leadership Award to multiple high schools in the area.
Simko had been an avid scale military historic modeler since he first wandered at the age of 10 into his neighborhood Marsh Hobby Shop in his hometown of Trenton. He amassed an extensive collection of both built and unbuilt model kits and enjoyed scratch building armored cutaways. His first model kit was the Aurora Panther Tank in 1963. When he wasn’t teaching or out to eat at his favorite restaurants, you could find him lurking the aisles at Red Bank’s Hobbymasters, chatting with his dear friend Steve. Some of his model builds were featured in Scale Model Builders Book in Black and White. In the book, he described his model-building avocation:
“Building a model for me is a return to my carefree, halcyon days of my boyhood. It is an errant wish that sometime, somewhere on a summer night as I build, that I may not have to grow old. And I smile, even for a moment, as I finish the kit and relive the sheer joy of holding history in my hands. Of course I will grow old, but I will have a lot of fun as I journey along.”
As if he wasn’t busy enough, in recent years Simko was the proud author of Queen of Two Kings, a historical fiction novel set during World War II.
Dr. Simko was born in Trenton (Makes, the World Takes) in 1953 to John Simko, a WWII veteran and painter for the state of New Jersey, and Helen Vasily, a secretary at the New Jersey State Museum. He was preceded in death by his parents and beloved aunt, Mary Vasily. He is survived by his son and adventure co-pilot Nicholas Simko, of Albuquerque, NM; his daughter and musical partner Gemma Simko, of Santa Monica, CA; his first best friend and brother John Simko and wife Joan of Hamilton; his dear friend of over 45 years, Steve Battilana of West Chester, PA; and his partner and absolute love of his life, Patty Gill of Ocean.
In lieu of flowers, please send donations to The Simko Family Scholarship at Monmouth University (University Advancement, 400 Cedar Avenue, West Long Branch, NJ 07764-9980). Or, for the love of Pete, please eat at the restaurants and bars Gene loved and visited daily- his family is concerned without his patronage they will simply be run out of business.
A memorial gathering celebrating Gene’s life will be held at Thompson Memorial Home, 310 Broad Street, Red Bank, on Saturday, June 16th from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with words of remembrance from family at 1 o’clock.
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