Clifford J. SIMONEAU

WOLFEBORO — Clifford J. Simoneau, 46, of Wolfeboro, a professional scuba diver, died Nov. 13 , 2005, in Wolfeboro, surrounded by family and friends following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born Nov. 2, 1959, in Dracut, Mass., the son Lucille (Altemus) Simoneau and the late Maurice Simoneau and had lived in Wolfeboro for most of his adult life.He started his career by attending the National Association of Scuba Diving Schools in San Diego, Calif. He was founder and owner of North Country Scuba and Sports in Wolfeboro and Laconia. During that time, he taught scuba classes statewide including a long tenure at Plymouth State University, Plymouth.He was the past president of the Wolfeboro Chamber of Commerce and co-founder of the Granite Man Triathlon. He went on to become vice president of a world renown training institute, Technical Diving International Inc., where he became a technical diving instructor/trainer, teaching mixed gas air and rebreather instruction. Cliff was a member of the Shark Research Institute out of Rutgers University, which brought him to tag and retrieve DNA samples from whale sharks from places such as Galapagos Islands, Cocoas, New Guinea and other exotic regions around the globe. He was also a member of the research dive team and trainer located at Woods Hole Institute on Cape Cod, Mass. Most recently, he became co-owner of Silent Diving Systems, a distributor of closed circuit rebreathers.Of him, his family wrote, "(He) lived his dreams and life to their fullest every day with a free spirit, a love of life, a loss that will be felt by those he leaves behind."In addition to his mother of Dracut, Mass., survivors include his wife of 25 years, Kathleen (Lee) Simoneau of Wolfeboro; three sisters, Virginia "Ginna" Pearson of Londonderry, Martha Sewell of Everett, Mass., and Robin McCarthy of Lowell, Mass.; a niece, Alina Loynd, and three nephews, Ryan Loynd and Josh and Timothy Lee, all of Alton, and his beloved dog, Bailey.He will be missed by his special friends, Mark and Sandy Hutchins, Wolfeboro.Calling hours will be Thursday, Nov. 17, 2005, from 4-8 p.m. at the Lord Funeral Home, Wolfeboro. A Mass of Christian burial will be celebrated Friday 11 a.m. at the St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Church, Route 28, Alton. Burial will be in the Lakeview Cemetery, Wolfeboro. Reception to follow at the Pinckney Boat House on the Brewster Academy Campus, Wolfeboro.Donations in his memory may be made to the National Education for Assistance Dog Services, P.O. Box 213, West Boylston, MA 01583. Checks payable to N.E.A.D.S., sent to neadsdogsaol.com.