Redmond Simonsen, 1942-2005

Thanks to a link from Napoleon Games (formerly OSG), I just learned of the death of Redmond Simonsen who was one of the most significant figures in wargaming in the 1970's and 80's. He died of a heart attack on March 8.

Simonsen, in partnership with Jim Dunnigan, took over the foundering wargame publisher Simulations Publications, Inc. (SPI) from Chris Wagner, and vastly expanded the number and quality of wargames available at that time. Dunnigan was an experienced wargame designer, while Simonsen became the art director for literally hundreds of wargames.

Simonsen left the wargaming field just as the hobby was entering its long decline (being superseded by role playing games first, and computer-based games later).