NC Zoo's Pat Simmons passes; funeral Saturday

ASHEBORO — Pat Simmons, Director and CEO of the North Carolina Zoo, passed away on July 14, 2025, following a five-year battle with cancer. 

The NC Zoo made the announcement “with tremendous sadness.” 

According to the Pugh Funeral Home website, Simmons will lie in repose on Friday, July 18, from 1-6 p.m. until family visitation begins at 6 p.m. and again Saturday, July 19, prior to a half hour service that begins at 2 p.m. For those attending, NC Zoo attire is preferred. 

Pugh Funeral Home is located at 437 Sunset Avenue, Asheboro. Burial will be later in Southlawn Cemetery in Coshocton, Ohio. 

Simmons had been at the helm of the NC Zoo since 2015. Before that, she was director of the Akron Zoo in Ohio from 1985-2014, giving her more than 41 years of experience leading zoos accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA). She was Chairwoman of the Board of the Association of Zoos and Aquariums in 2012, and was appointed to the Board of the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) from 2015 to 2021. 

Simmons was nationally and internationally recognized in the zoo and aquarium industry, receiving numerous awards and appointments in support of wildlife conservation, sustainability and women in leadership roles. 

Simmons spearheaded Vision (2016) and Master Planning (2018 and 2024-25) for the North Carolina Zoo, leading to an upcoming decade of growth for the Zoo, starting with Asia, a 12.5-acre region that will open in June 2026, the first major expansion at the North Carolina Zoo since 1994. 

Australia, the next continent, is fully funded and slated to open in 2029. The replacement Aviary/Amazon (which is partially funded) completes this period of continent expansion at the North Carolina Zoo. 

These vibrant new habitats, which will feature some of the world’s most extraordinary animals and plants, will be cherished for generations to come. 

Cheryl Armstrong, the Executive Director of the North Carolina Zoo Society, remarked, “Pat laughed easily and often and extended her warmth toward everyone. The Zoo Society family will always remain grateful for the wisdom, caring, and friendship Pat Simmons shared with us. 

“As much as we will miss her, we know the good she achieved during her lifetime will not stop now. The kindness, integrity, and moxie that Pat instilled in the people who knew her will survive long into the future to help make the world a better place for all its inhabitants.” 

Pat Simmons’ mission was to inspire people to be stewards of the natural world and protect the diversity of animals and plants, the Zoo said. So she prioritized the interconnections between humans, plants and animals through modern habitat design, award-winning educational programming and memorable guest experiences. 

Under Simmons’ leadership, the NC Zoo’s lauded wildlife conservation program has flourished on a global scale. The NC Zoo also took the top award for Sustainability from the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums (WAZA) in 2021. 

In 2024, the NC Zoo became a certified Botanical Garden through Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BCGI), a longtime dream for the Zoo. 

“The North Carolina Zoo is internationally recognized as one of the very best — and that didn’t happen by accident. It is due in large part to the thoughtful and innovative leadership of Pat Simmons,” N.C. Secretary of Natural and Cultural Resources Secretary Pamela B. Cashwell said. “To say she’s beloved at the Zoo and beyond is an understatement.” 

The Zoo’s press release noted that “to know Simmons was to love her. She was a force to be reckoned with, and she made a significant impact during her tenure at the North Carolina Zoo. Those who worked with Simmons described her as immensely funny, smart, and loved by many. She was a sought-after mentor and counselor, helping many find their true passion. Her legacy in the zoo community will carry on through those she touched throughout her lifetime.” 

On the Pugh Funeral Home website, former friends and colleagues shared similar acknowledgements of admiration. Among them: 

Chris Gentile: “To know Pat was to love her. She shared her exuberant smile and positivity with everyone she met. The incredible support she showed us at the Nature Center in Asheville after Tropical Storm Helene ravished our area in September 2024 was nothing short of a miracle. Within hours, she reached out to us and offered the NC Zoo’s support — sending a team of a dozen team members along with thousands of dollars worth of supplies. But ... this was Pat — eager to help others in any way possible. We love you Pat and will be adding a memorial brick at the Nature Center in your honor — so that you will remain in our hearts always.” 

Linda M. Toothman: “I remember visiting with Pat when Rodger and I were journeying west from Ohio to our new home in Montana. She escorted us all around the North Carolina Zoo. Pat and I grew up next door to each other in Zanesfield, Ohio but was much younger. During our visit it was so good for our adult selves to connect and get to know each other. Pat will be missed.” 

Anthony O’Leary: “I am fortunate to have known and worked with Pat during her entire career at the Akron Zoo while I served in various positions with the City of Akron and the Akron Metropolitan Housing Authority. Similar to her work in North Carolina, her leadership, commitment and ability to work with people resulted in a top quality zoo in Akron. The focus on excellence that Pat generated continues to this day at the Akron Zoo. Pat had many gifts to share with all of us and her legacy and memory will be lasting.” 

Peggy Sloan: “Pat lived and led with love and light. She enhanced our earth, and my life, with her kindness, spunk, and intellect directed strategically as a force for good.”