In Memory of Jean-François Simard

Read the statement from Cyclone.

Below is from Mark Rea.

It is with great sadness that I write to inform you of the passing of my friend Jean-François Simard on Sunday at his camping lodge in Quebec. He was most recently the head of Cyclone Lighting and before that the President of Lumec. He loved and changed outdoor lighting in North America – optics with aesthetics. And he deeply cared about reducing light pollution, helping shape where we all are today.

JF was unique. He was a maverick, passionate, caring, business savvy, creative, a mentor, and a dear friend. He was one of those people you meet once in a lifetime, and I know there will never be another quite like him. He cared about the LRC and believed in our mission. He went to all of our Partner events. He lectured in my leadership class. He taught me a great deal about the way the lighting business was run. We loved him, and he will be missed.

Our deepest thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends.

Mark S. Rea, Ph.D.
Lighting Research Center
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute