Aaron Peter Simonton who dedicated his career to assisting the elderly and was instrumental in developing the Monroe Center for Healthy Aging, died in Florida, a place where, in his later years he enjoyed ocean sunrises on Melbourne Beach and helped preserve wildlife. He passed away from Cancer at 76 years of age.

Born on September 14, 1946, in Bradford, Yorkshire England. Aaron was the oldest of eight children born to Aaron Brand Simonton and Angela Augusta (Kavanagh) Simonton. He graduated from Hialeah High School in 1964 and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1965. A Viet Nam Veteran he served in Pleiku, Viet Nam from 1967 to 1968 and was Honorably discharged in 1969. Following his discharge from the Air Force Aaron decided to discover America and hit the road on his motorcycle, ending up in Monroe, Michigan where he stayed. He took classes at the Monroe Community College and graduated from Madonna University with a bachelor degree in Gerontology and was hired as the Director of the Monroe Senior Center. That began his decade's long career of serving seniors and advocating for their rights. Aaron was the Executive Director of the Monroe Center for Healthy Aging for thirty five years and obtained National Accreditation of Senior Centers before retiring in 2010. He served for twenty five years on the governing board of Mercy Memorial Hospital, was elected and served on the National Council on Aging and the National Institute of Senior Centers to represent the State of Michigan and was past president of the Michigan Association of Senior Centers. He also served as past president of the Monway Community Health Center governing board, assisted in the establishment of the Monroe County Senior Legal Services and was past president of their governing board.He was nominated by U.S. Representative John Dingell and represented the State of Michigan at the 2005 White House Conference on Aging. He was on numerous State and Federal boards representing and advocating on behalf of the elderly. Upon retiring he spent many years on Melbourne Beach, a barrier island off the Atlantic coast of Florida and continued his education earning his Master Degree in Gerontology and Health Administration . He also received a Florida State Fish and Wildlife Permit and spent many hours assisting and protecting Sea Turtles. He was known for wearing flamboyant, feathered hats and walking the beach at sunrise checking on nesting sea turtles. picking up trash and keeping the beach clean. In 2019 he received the Melbourne Beach Citizen of the Year Award for keeping the beach clean and protecting the wildlife. Aaron passed away on August 10, 2023, with his brothers Paul and Cameron and dear friend John Murray at his bedside. He is survived by his twin brother Gregory Paul Simonton, sister Pamela Angela Simonton, sister Kimberly Elizabeth (Chris) Roberts and brother Cameron Matthew Simonton, daughter Danielle (Chris) Berg, daughter, Kristin (Scott) Livingston, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents Aaron and Angela Simonton, brother Stephen Preston Simonton, brother Keith Theo Simonton and brother Sean Patrick Simonton. Per Aaron's wishes, his body was donated to science for the benefit of others and for the advancement of medical research. His remains will be cremated and the ashes spread into the Gulf by the United Tissue Network. The family thanks the many friends in Melbourne Beach that came to his side and gave him loving care that enabled him to remain in his home until near the end, and for organizing the paddle out into the ocean he loved to float a wreath in his memory. In lieu of flowers, he has requested that donations in his memory be made to the Monroe Center for Healthy Aging.