Bradley Simms

Bradley A. Simms, 35, died unexpectedly in Orono on Tuesday, January 11th. He was born March 12th, 1986, in Alexandria, Virginia, the first child of Jon A. and Susan M. (Bradley) Simms.

Brad graduated from Hampden Academy, class of 2004. He was Captain of the Varsity Football team, as well as Captain of both the Indoor and Outdoor Track teams. Brad experienced a variety of roles in his 20’s, including cadet, salesman, painter, cook, server, athlete, artist, musician, and landscaper to name a few. He lived for more than a year each in Washington State, Virginia Beach, and Manhattan. He traveled through Europe, including Rome and the Vatican. These experiences helped develop Brad’s unique perspectives, his curiosity and creativity, his empathetic nature, and his personal faith in God.

In 2014 Brad was hired as a Leasing Agent for The Reserve, a private off-campus housing complex affiliated with the University of Maine with over 600 residents. Brad’s experience and acquired skills were a great match for this role, and he enjoyed success from the start. Brad progressed through Assistant Leasing Manager, then Leasing Manager, followed by Assistant General Manager, and on to become General Manager for the past three years, until his passing. Over a span of six years under Brad’s influence and leadership The Reserves team steadily raised the bar from an underperforming 70 percent occupancy rate to a 100 percent occupancy rate the past two years in a row – and a current waiting list of 250.

Noticing the success of Brad and his team, The Reserve executive leadership tapped Brad to be a mentor to other properties within the Harrison Street portfolio of over 200 similar properties nationwide. During the past year Brad traveled to properties in Wisconsin, Kentucky, Alabama, Texas, and Florida, helping to train and troubleshoot a wide range of issues, from administrative, maintenance, and staffing challenges, to morale boosting and team building.

Of his earthly roles, Brad enjoyed none more than that of ‘uncle’ to his sister’s children, Joey (10) and Mila (7) Miranda. He was a wonderful uncle that helped build, decorate, and launch rockets in the VFW field; took them mountain biking and sledding through Dorothea Dix Park; boating and fishing on the Penobscot River; taught and played games involving boards, toys, chalk, musical instruments, gadgets, and gizmos of all kinds. With Brad there was always an adventure awaiting.

Brad will be sorely missed by family, friends, and staff at the Reserve. While we do not understand God’s plan, it must be said that Brad’s last year on earth was truly a happy one, full of interesting projects, fun family activities, and hopeful plans. And for those wonderful memories we give Him thanks and praise.

Brad is survived by his parents, Jon and Susan Simms of Hampden; grandmother Elizabeth Claire, of Virginia Beach, VA; aunts Teresa Bradley, of Bradley, and Kathy Caron, of Bangor; uncle John Bradley, and his wife Sharon Bradley, of Stroudsburg, PA; uncle Jim Simms, and his wife Nadine Simms, of Haledon, NJ; nephew Joey Miranda, of Falmouth; niece Mila Miranda, of Falmouth; cousins Abby Caron, and Meaghan Caron, of Bangor; cousins Taylor Bradley, and Christopher Bradley, of Marrietta, GA; cousins Jennifer Ferguson, of Denver, CO, Cindy Chester, of Louisville, CO, and James Chester, of Kennebunkport; cousin Nicholas Bradley, of Stroudsburg, PA; cousins James Simms, and Danny Simms, of Haledon, NJ; many second and third cousins.
Brad was predeceased by his sister, Shannon Miranda, of Falmouth, Maine; by his maternal uncle, James P. Bradley, MD, of Albuquerque, NM; and by his grandparents, Jerome, and Patricia Bradley, of Hampden.

Relatives and friends are welcome to call 6-8 p.m. Friday, January 21, 2022, at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Ave., Hampden. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated 11:00 a.m. Saturday, January 22, 2022 at St. Paul the Apostle Parish, St. Matthews Catholic Church, 70 Western Ave., Hampden.

Those wishing to attend the service remotely may do so by visiting BrookingsSmith.com and clicking on the Available Life Tributes icon. The live stream will begin at 10:50 a.m.

The family invites relatives and friends to share conversation and refreshments at the Hampden-Gilpatrick Chapel of Brookings-Smith, 45 Western Ave., Hampden immediately following the Mass.