Remembering Mike Simmonds

Mike Simmonds

Mike Simmonds, prominent Omaha restaurateur and supporter of cancer research at UNMC, died Sept. 13 at the age of 67 after battling renal cell carcinoma for more than a decade.

In 2010, Simmonds and his wife, Lin, were selected to receive the Margre and Chuck Durham Spirit of Nebraska Award, after their 2004 launch of a program through their company, Simmonds Restaurant Management, and its affiliated Burger King restaurants called Help Beat Cancer for Kids. Over six years, the program raised more than $1 million for cancer research at UNMC.

Tom Thompson, senior director of development-UNMC for the University of Nebraska Foundation, said Simmonds also made sizeable donations to ongoing and targeted cancer research initiatives at UNMC.

Thompson said that throughout Simmonds’ own battle with cancer, his mind was on the children he saw fighting it.

“He didn’t feel sorry for himself, but his heart broke for the kids he saw fighting cancer,” Thompson said. “As many people do, he thought that was just almost unfair. It was a big factor in why he was motivated to help at the cancer center in some of the ways that he did.

“You can see that same theme throughout his philanthropy and leadership in the community, whether in education, housing or family support. He did everything he could to try to level the playing field for those in need.”

There will be a mass of Christian burial held for Simmonds at 10 a.m. today at St. Robert Bellarmine Catholic Church, 11802 Pacific St. The family prefers memorials be sent to the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center, Bellevue University, Heart Ministry Center, Juvenile Diabetes Association, Merrymakers Association or Project Harmony.