Jean Simpson, a brilliant, loving, and trailblazing woman, passed away peacefully on July 21, 2025 surrounded by friends and family. She was 83 years old.
Jean was born on March 29, 1942, in Owatonna, Minnesota, to Pauline and Robert Stevenson. She grew up in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and spent her high school years in Tenafly, New Jersey, graduating as salutatorian of her class. She went on to attend Northwestern University before launching a groundbreaking career at IBM, where she led the word processing division at a time when few women held such positions—an early pioneer in her field.
Jean met her beloved husband, George Simpson, at a word processing convention. They shared 45 wonderful years of marriage, raising a family together and creating a life full of love, purpose, and adventure. Jean was a devoted mother, stepmother, and grandmother, and she poured her energy into both family and community.
She was a passionate leader and volunteer, serving as head of the Southwestern Connecticut Girl Scouts and leading the Red Cross in Connecticut. She also created and managed hotel-based office complexes well ahead of her time—before co-working was a common concept. Later, she became a successful realtor in the Hamptons and helped run her husband’s real estate software companies.
Jean lived with energy and elegance. She loved biking, tennis, exercise classes, and hosting vibrant dinner parties. She was an avid reader, a lover of language, and a lifelong editor—whether polishing her husband’s writing, reviewing her daughter’s school papers, or offering thoughtful feedback on her grandson’s novel-in-progress. She also loved keeping up with the world around her—she never missed a weekly issue of People magazine, and she followed the news closely, always up to date on both national events and celebrity gossip. Her warmth, intelligence, and radiant smile touched everyone she met. One of her college friends once said, “She’s the smartest woman I ever met”—a sentiment echoed by many who had the privilege of knowing her.
She is survived by her daughter Stephanie Simpson, her stepson Alex Simpson, her brother Bobby Stevenson, her grandchildren, and many lifelong friends. She was preceded in death by her husband George Simpson and her parents.
Jean spent much of her later life in New York City, Connecticut, and Southampton, New York, where she will also be laid to rest. In honor of her deep love for the water, a private ceremony will be held to return Jean’s ashes to the water where George’s were placed, in accordance with her wishes.
To plant a tree in memory of Jean Stevenson Simpson, please visit our Tribute Store.
