Hampstead - Don Charles Simpson, a beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed peacefully with his wife by his side on Thursday February 24 ^th .  He was 66.

Don was born at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Kittery, Maine on September 14 ^th , 1955. He was preceded in death by his parents Leonard Simpson of Rutland, V.T. and Mrs. Lorraine Ghilliotti of San Diego, C.A. As well as his sisters Sandra-Lee Houle of Nashua, N.H. and Cynthia Danahy of Haverhill, M.A., and stepbrother Michael Ghilliotti of San Diego, C.A.  He is survived by his older brother Wayne Simpson of Haverhill M.A.

He spent his formative years moving between southern New Hampshire and northeastern Massachusetts.  He attended Tenney High School in Methuen, M.A.  After a young life of mischief and adventure, about which most of us will never know the full story, he attended the Control Data Institute to learn a computer trade that would span his entire career.

Don started with Wang Laboratories then moved onto EMC Corporation where he spent most of his career.  He worked hard throughout his life to provide for his family.  He will be remembered fondly by his co-workers from around the world.  Don never lived to work but always worked to live.

He was active with youth sports in Hampstead, N.H where he settled with is family and lived for 45 years.  He spent many years coaching both of his sons on the Hampstead Gold's and Hampstead Athletics Little League teams.  He also coached youth basketball for the Hampstead Recreation department spending many of his Saturdays at the Memorial Gym.  Don loved the outdoors and enjoyed passing down his love of fly-fishing to his boys.  He enjoyed travel with his wife to Ireland, Moosehead Lake in Maine, the Dominican Republic, and anywhere else he could find warm and sunny weather.

Don is survived by his wife Colleen Simpson; and his two sons Benjamin and his wife Joy Felio, and Adam and his wife Katherine; and four grandchildren, Brinley, Lyman, Charlie, and Malena who adoringly referred to him as Papa, and a collection of nieces and nephews he loved and adored.  Don and Colleen enjoyed a 45-year marriage, a partnership full of laughs and adventure.

Known for his wit and dry sense of humor he was quick to lovingly tease.  He will leave a legacy with everyone he ever met and will be missed by many.  Always ready with a tale, we will never know if those Vince Flynn novels were based on his life or exactly where he flew his powered parachute on his amazing adventures.

Relatives and friends are invited to call on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, from 4:00-7:00 p.m. at Brookside Chapel & Funeral Home, 116 Main St., Plaistow, NH.

In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation www.cff.org/give-monthly , the Lupus Foundation of America www.lupus.org/ , or a Trout Unlimited chapter of your choice www.tu.org/ .