Frank R Simlick Sr.

‘Cause I’m as free as a bird now

And this bird you cannot change—

Frank R Simlick Sr., 79, of Willington, CT passed away peacefully at Manchester Memorial Hospital surrounded by his loved ones on Friday, July 31, 2026. He was born in Middletown, CT on Friday the 13th in September of 1946 to the late John M. and Stella Bocon Simlick.  He attended local schools. He proudly served our country in the U.S. Navy, stationed in Vietnam on the USS Great Sitkin from January 1967 to December 1968. He received the National Defense Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Vietnam Service Medal with Bronze Star.

He was first married to Kathleen Gilbert Simlick and second to Donna Janiak Simlick. Although both marriages ended in divorce, they produced three children that Frank was very proud of and loved dearly.

He was a Superintendent at Consolidated Cigar Company in Glastonbury and Suffield for many years, then worked as a machinist at Pratt & Whitney and also had success selling cars for various dealerships in the area. Frank was a Jack of all Trades, master of none. He could fix anything, a little plumbing, electrical, carpentry and auto mechanic. He had the gift of gab-which helped make him a great salesman—He could sell ice to an Eskimo.

He has lived in Cromwell, Glastonbury, Suffield, Enfield, Windsor, Stafford and finally buying a house and settling in Willington later in life. He loved to party with anyone that would hang with him. He never met a stranger he didn’t like. One of the things he enjoyed most was the beach. He would take many a ride down to Misquamicut either for the day, weekend or the entire summer, camping out in the Walmart parking lot.

In his later years he became such a free spirit—wanted to just be on the move….He took car trips to the Outer Banks with his kids, Heather, Frank and their families and an infamous cross country trek with his son, Matthew. There are fond memories of spontaneous rides in a van that he borrowed from the dealership—-the family piled in to go either to the drive in, looking at Christmas lights or go to various open houses to scope out their dream home, the beach or camping at Burlingame campground. Frank left an impression on everyone he met—Good or bad. He lived life the way he wanted to regardless whether anyone agreed with him or not.

Some people leave this world quietly but anyone that knew him knows he didn’t do anything quietly. Leaving behind a lifetime of stories and adventures.

He leaves behind Frank Simlick, Jr., his wife Jodi; Heather Hatch, her husband, Jason; Matthew Simlick, his wife, Rachel and step-son Geoffrey Canepa and his wife, Candida.

Grandchildren-Tyler, Evan, Samantha, Mason, Katelyn, Abigail, Emma, Maggie, Amanda and Andrew. 

Great-Grandchildren -Kira, Mikaela, Kensley and Cole.

He also leaves behind his brothers John (Nellie), Peter (Linda), Joe, sister JoAnn and sister-in-law Anne, many nieces and nephews and also special friends, Dicky, Sherman, Joshua, Jonathan and Tom. He also leaves special pets-Neko, Bella, Luna and Beowulf.

He was predeceased by special friend, Violette(Dee) DaDalt and her daughter, Jennifer DaDalt. Parents John and Stella and his brother, Henry Simlick and step-son, Joseph Canepa and long time friend, Gary Wagner and his dog, Lucy.

There are no calling hours. Burial with Military Honors with be September 19, 2026 at 9 am at the Veteran’s Cemetery, 317 Bow Lane, Middletown, CT.  A Celebration of Life “After Party” will be held following the burial at Noon at Four Seasons by the Lake (Sun Valley) in Stafford Springs. In lieu of flowers, please make any donations to Disabled American Veterans (DAV).