Obituary for George M. Simonetti

Life Story for George M. Simonetti

GEORGE MICHAEL SIMONETTI - 89 - AUGUST 4, 1927 - MARCH 30, 2017

George was the only one of eight children born in the Belleview Hospital in New York City to parents, Michele Simonetti and Rosa Porcelli. His favorite childhood memory was visits to the Bronx Zoo. He was a man of many creative talents working many different jobs - in a butcher shop, tailor shop, jewelry repair shop, carpenter, Brooklyn Navy Yard, and a soldier in the Tank Corp WWII. He met his first love Mary Brecia, who jilted him. While on the rebound, he became competitive dance partners with Christine Rose at Roseland Ballroom in New York City. They both won many dance trophies, one of which was from Jack Dempsey, the well known boxer.

George and Christine eloped in 1957 and moved to Key West, Florida where George took a job managing the Bowling LAnes and Christine worked for Holiday Inn as a bookeeper.

George completed his high school education in Miami while living in Key West and trained to become a dental technician. He accepted a job in Clearwater, FL at Knight's Dental Studio. George and Christine shared 23 years of happy married life before Christine passed away in 1980.

George met Margaret, a widow, at the Coliseum Ball Room in St. Petersburg. George decided right away she was going to be his dance partner. Little did Margaret know that their first dance, the waltz, --MAY I HAVE THIS DANCE FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,-- was really an early proposal of marriage by George. The "formal" proposal didn't come until a few months later. They had a beautiful formal Christian wedding with Pastor Hank Lidstrum of Calvary Community Church honoring their request to give the salvation message and invitation as part of their wedding ceremony. They honeymooned in Acapulco, Mexico. George moved to Tampa and continued to work at Knight's dental studio in Clearwater until he retired in 1980.

George and Margaret joined Idlewild Baptist Church. George became a faithful usher shortly after Idlewild moved from Chamberlain High School to Bearss Avenue and continued when Idlewild Baptist built the present church in Lutz. He remained faithful until approximately two years ago when he fell in the parking lot and could no longer walk the long aisles. They joined a square dance club and became avid square dancers as their choice of exercise. George and Margaret enjoyed many cruises, besides several in the Caribbean, Hawaii, Alaska, the Mediterranean - visiting Ukraine, Pompeii, Greece, several places in Italy and others. George was most impressed and enjoyed his trip to the Holy Land above all others. George and Margaret had many vacation years in North Carolina in their own getaway as well as with square dance friends, Ken and Sharon.

Some of George's favorite memories of his life with Margaret are the renewal of their wedding vows on Valentine's Day when Idlewild Baptist church was conducting services in Chamberlain High School, his water baptism by Pastor Larry Askew January 9, 1984 at Idlewild when the church moved to Bearss Avenue, his retirement party when he retired in 1989, their 20th wedding anniversary celebrationreplicating their original wedding celebration with Pastor Hank Lindstrum, their same wedding party, and wedding attire. Thirteen couples renewed theri vows with them. Then they were honored with a surprise 25th renewal of vow celebration by friends. Margaret gave George a surprise 80th birthday party with approximately 100 guests attending including friends he had not seen in years.

George and MArgaret made a 6,000+ mile trip around the country when he first became ill to seechildhood friends and relatives in New York, Utah, Nebraska, his happily married first love MAry, who jilted him, in Tucson, AZ, Reno, Nevada, Texas, and many stops in between.

George fought a hard battle for three years he was on dialysis never yielding until God called and George answered. He kept up his daily very structured military style life to the best of his ability in spite of his limited ability to do so. He loved and appreciated more than words could say angels Bob and Sandy McIntyre from Idlewild who were faithful to visit on a regular basis and he definitely will miss the good meals Sandy prepared special for his diet needs. George was spiritually prepared for his home going and is home safe with friends and loved ones who have gone before. May he rest in peace as he waits for his wife, Margaret, to join him who loved him more than life itself and more than yesterday but NEVER as much as tomorrow. God makes no mistakes when he joins two people together. Their marriage was a marriage made in heaven and blessed by God throughout their dating year and the 36 years of marriage

Condolences can be sent to:
Mrs. Margaret K. Simonetti
11712 N. Rome Avenue
Tampa, Fl 33612-5176
Ph: (813)935-1447
Please make contribution expression to: Your favorite charity or Idlewild Baptist Church(18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd. Lutz, Fl 33548-4536