Jean Simpson of Southampton Dies July 21

Jean Simpson of Southampton died peacefully on July 21, surrounded by friends and family. She was 83.

She 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.

She met her husband, George Simpson, at a word processing convention. They shared 45 years of marriage, raising a family together and creating a life full of love, purpose, and adventure. She 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 real estate agent in the Hamptons and helped run her husband’s real estate software companies.

She 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 enjoyed 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, her family said. 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 predeceased by her husband George Simpson and her parents.

Jean spent much of her later life in New York City, Connecticut, and Southampton, where she will be interred. In honor of her deep love for the water, a private ceremony will be held to return her ashes to the water where her husband’s were placed, in accordance with her wishes.