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The Rev. LeRoi Simmons, 74, a business owner, minister, and longtime community activist, died Thursday, May 6, at Einstein Medical Center from complications of sickle-cell anemia.
A family man, Rev. Simmons built a life around standing up for children and his Germantown neighborhood, fighting injustice whenever he saw it. But he somehow remained hopeful about the world, said City Councilmember Helen Gym, a friend.
âHe was clearheaded without ever being cynical,â said Gym. âLeRoi just exhorted us to do more, every day.â
Born in North Philadelphia to Lubertha Mae and Leroy Simmons, Rev. Simmons graduated in 1965 from Benjamin Franklin High School. His father died when Rev. Simmons was 14, forcing him to grow up young, giving him a sense of responsibility for others that never left him.