Tamara L. Simmons

She was born in New York City on Feb. 19, 1957, to John and Jessica Simmons.

After studying abroad in Costa Rica, Tamara graduated from Adlai Stevenson High School in 1975. She went on to attend John Jay College of Criminal Justice before enlisting in the U.S. Army.

Following in her mother’s footsteps, she began working as a corrections officer for the New York City Department of Juvenile Justice. After retirement and almost 20 years of winter and summer vacations at her home there, she and the family made Saranac Lake their permanent residence.

Tamara loved the peace and tranquility of the Adirondack Mountain region. She enjoyed camping trips on Upper Saranac and shopping locally at Kinney drugstore and was an avid reader at the public library.

She loved reading true crime stories and about ancient Egypt.

Tamara enjoyed travel and leaves behind many fond family memories of trips to Florida’s amusement parks.

She embraced social media and loved to relax with online gaming.

She was a caring and considerate person who loved to pick out gifts for others that would reflect both her appreciation and gratitude as well as their interests. She loved cats and wearing jewelry.

Birthdays, holidays and rites of passage were always a celebration with great food, music and decorations. She loved movies, everything from classics like “An Affair to Remember” to Syfy channel B films like “Sharknado.”

Her taste in music was just as diverse, ranging from Broadway musicals to soul, country and classical. She was a great mom and grandma whose diverse interests provided her children with a variety of cultural and intellectual influences.

Tamara persevered through many challenges with her health, but she possessed an inner strength that allowed her to laugh, smile and be a supportive advocate for her loved ones. She made many sacrifices for her family and would always do the leg work to make sure their needs were met.

Recently preceded in death by her beloved father, Tamara will be forever survived in the hearts and memories of her mother; two daughters: Alima and Jatera; two brothers; four grandchildren; her partner James; and, of course, her beloved cats: Isis and Lionel.