SimpsonScarborough: Intelligent Marketing for Higher Education

Christopher had such a dynamic personality and a positive spirit it's impossible for me to believe that he's really gone. I remember the first time I talked to Christopher at length, after he had formed Simpson Communications and we were talking about how we might work together. I had known him by reputation; after we talked, I knew that he'd be successful. His death leaves a huge void in our profession, of course. But personally I'll miss his positive, upbeat energy and his zest for everything he was doing. My prayers go out to his family.

I am so sorry to hear about Christopher. Please accept my sincerest sympathies and know that my thoughts and prayers are with Christopher's family, and his SimpsonScarborough family as well.

I am terribly sorry to hear about the death of Christopher Simpson. I got to know him in a sometimes adversarial role while I served as a television news reporter. Particularly during the events surrounding the firing of Bob Knight at Indiana University in 2000 I called on him often. Even in that role, I took careful note of how he handled that difficult situation and why he did it in certain ways. I certainly recall much of those times now as I am in a public relations role in higher education myself. I respect how he conducted himself while I knew him here.

My condolences to his family and all the friends who will miss him.

So sorry to hear of Christopher's passing. Though I didn't get to know him well, I did enjoy my interactions with him over the past year or so. My thoughts and prayers are with Christopher's family, the SimpsonScarborough staff, and his many friends.

I first met Christopher shortly after I had left Indiana University, and he had arrived there. We sat together at a Science Coalition dinner and I remember being somewhat cranky that he didn't know who I was. After that I heckled him a few times at various national meetings. Ultimately, I got the chance to teach some courses with him and I realized he had a great deal of wisdom and insight to share. He always treated me with enormous professional respect and courtesy despite our early disagreements. I was terribly sad to hear of his illness, and his passing is a loss to our profession and to each of us individually. My warmest thoughts are with his family and colleagues.

Elizabeth’s note that Christopher had nerves of steel is spot on. Having worked for Christopher, I can personally testify that that he passed that nerve on to those he mentored. He instilled confidence in others by setting them to doing their best work, and then holding them to that standard. He also often saw the potential in others before they saw it in themselves. At least one thing I do every week, if not every day, is guided by something I learned from Christopher. I am indebted to his kind—and often times incredibly unnerving—guidance. Thanks Christopher for being a mentor, teacher, and friend.

Elizabeth’s note that Christopher had nerves of steel is spot on. Having worked for Christopher, I can personally testify that that he passed that nerve on to those he mentored. He instilled confidence in others by setting them to doing their best work, and then holding them to that standard. He also often saw the potential in others before they saw it in themselves. At least one thing I do every week, if not every day, is guided by something I learned from Christopher. I am indebted to his kind—and often times incredibly unnerving—guidance. Thanks Christopher for being a mentor, teacher, and friend.

Christopher was truly a giant in our profession. I am sorry for the loss to his family, his colleagues, his clients and all of us, whom he taught so much.

Christopher was truly a giant in our profession. I am sorry for the loss to his family, his colleagues, his clients and all of us, whom he taught so much.

Christopher was a dear friend and constant e-mail companion whose unfailing encouragement, support and sound counsel helped get me through both a career crisis and my own diagnosis of cancer in November. His own fight against cancer showed both a level of bravery and an uncomplaining character that are rare qualities. I will miss him greatly and his memory will be an unending inspiration.
Kurt Van der Dussen
Bloomington IN

Christopher was the most dedicated person I have ever met. Dedicated to his business, his clients, his family and friends. He was also an avid fly fisher. Between business, we always found time to discuss our latest adventure casting to elusive trout or going to a great fishing destination. His talent, energy, dedication and love of life will be missed.

Elizabeth,

When I went to your website this morning and saw your entry, I felt as though I was punched in the stomach; I'm not only at a loss for words, I can barely sit here to type this note to express my sympathies to you and the team you've put together there.

Christopher was my mentor and friend; I wish we had had the opportunity to be professional colleagues other than at occasional crisis communications workshops. It's odd that our relationship grew stronger only after his initial cancer diagnosis. He confided in me knowing that I'd gone through the whole cancer ordeal a few times. I honestly thought he was the one person who was bigger than cancer, who could not only fight it, but win, and that he'd sail off into the sunset at some ripe old age.

Please extend my sympathies to your colleagues on behalf of all of us at Wabash College who knew and loved Christopher.

For those of us who do what we do, he was a fine colleague and an inspiration. He will be greatly missed.

With sadness,

Jim

I only exchanged a few emails with Christopher while doing some research for an article about Crisis Communications last spring. So, I didn't know him well, but my prayers go to his family, friends and colleagues.

Christopher was my boss, my mentor and my friend. He challenged me at every turn, and I know that I am a far better person today because of him. While we were not related (as we had to explain to many, many people), he was most definitely family. There is no preparation for the loss of such an incredible human being.

I was fortunate to work with CS at a formative point in my career and learned a great deal from him about the nature of higher education. Surely he mentored many other young professionals in addition to the good work he accomplished for colleges and universities across the country, including my own (The University of Kansas). He not only taught me the value of effective process, he also taught me the value of people and bringing them together for a common purpose. A powerful lesson from an incredible person. He has left an indelible mark on the field of higher education marketing and will be dearly missed.

I worked with Christopher during his tenure at Indiana University. Christopher was so very kind to me when I lost an eighteen month old grandaughter to leukemia that I was taken aback by his words of kindness and condolences. From that day forward, I had a new appreciation and love for this remarkable man. I was exposed to a side of Christopher that I didn't know until that unforgettable, personal conversation. Nancy Clensy

I'm stunned and very sad to hear of Chris' passing--obviously, I hadn't had the pleasure of talking with him recently and had no idea he was ill. Upon forming Simpson Communications, he became very active in, and supportive, of College Communicators Association of Virginia and D.C., freely sharing his professional knoweldge with us and advising us where the field of higher education communications was headed. I attended his most recent crisis communication teleconference and marveled once again at his ability to grasp all the shrapnel that explodes during a crisis, while maintaining a sense of humor. I'll never forget riding on the bow of a cabin cruiser in the darkness and fog, spotting crab pots and buoys with flashlights, as we returned with a boatload of guests from what should have been a pleasure cruise back from dinner in St. George's, Md., at the CCA conference at St. Mary's College. That was Chris--never afraid to grab the flashlight and hang of the bow in choppy seas, trying to get other people safely back on solid ground--and laughing about it all the way.

Christopher was a true friend to Montana State University, one that shared his incredible expertise and talent with us through a number of years and many situations. We are indebted to him for his guidance and thoughtful input. He helped us fine tune our approach to crisis situations and strengthen our relationships with the media. We have completely absorbed his book on crisis communictions, and will continue to refer to it in future years.

We cherish not only his brilliant insights into the world of university communications, but also his warm, genuine personality. We have lost a valued colleague and a wonderful friend. Our sympathies are with Millie, their family, and his company colleagues.

I did not know Christopher well but had the privilege of talking with him, and hearing him speak, at several conferences sponsored by the College Communicators Association of Virginia and Washington, DC. I was always struck by his keen insights into the challenges and opportunities of our profession, his generosity in sharing his expertise, and his gentle good humor. Christopher was held in high esteem by his clients and colleagues; he will be missed and remembered with admiration and respect.

David, Chris' son and I lived close and were friends in high school. I was very sad to learn of Chris' death he was a great person. My thoughts and prayers go out to all of his family.

I feel a special gratitude to Christopher for taking a chance on me when he hired me -- a journalist with no public relations experience -- as the head writer/editor for University Relations at Christopher Newport University in July 2005. I learned a lot from Christopher about marketing and public relations, and he freely offered me helpful advice, as well as providing me with freelancing work when I really needed it. For that, I will always be grateful.

I feel privileged to have known Christopher and been able to learn from him, if only for such a short time.
Please accept my sincerest and heartfelt sympathies on your loss.

Karen L. Gill

You can’t imagine the number of people who called or emailed to tell me of Christopher’s passing the other day—a testament, no doubt, to all the friends and colleagues he accumulated over time. My own memories of Christopher go back to 1999, when I served as a graduate assistant in his unit. He absolutely petrified me with his height and bark! It wasn’t until later that I got to know a kinder, gentler Christopher. To this day, I’m not sure which side I liked better. The bark was more predictable. He’s someone who made his own rules in life, and he had an energy and wit that the world will miss. I never really had a chance to thank him in life for all he did to set me on a great career path. So Christopher, wherever you are, thank you. Thank you for being so inspired and inspiring.

As one of Christopher's clients I had to learn to keep pace with his unmatched ability to respond to e-mail at lightning speed. And in reading his messages, I saw certain words and phrases used repeatedly when confirming our plans. "Perfect" and "good on all counts" were among his favorites.

Christopher's counsel was good on all counts and his professionalism always perfect. It was a pleasure, and an honor, to work with him.

On behalf of the Governing Board of the National Association of Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP), we send our deepest sympathies to Christopher Simpson's colleagues and family. You are all in our thoughts.
Tom Rock, NAGAP President

I had the great privilege of working with Christopher over a series of years at the AMA Higher Education Symposium. I was always struck by the standards he set for the conference and the standards he set for himself, whether personal or business. We will all miss his boundless enthusiasm and dedication to higher education.

I would just like to add my own thoughts to all those listed previously by my colleagues and friends. All of us in Washington – particularly in the community of higher education associations – were greatly saddened to hear about Christopher’s untimely death. Not only was he widely respected as a “player” in national higher education circles, Christopher was a good friend and colleague – and a wonderful mentor to many young professionals in our industry. He will be greatly missed.

My deepest condolences go out to Millie, David and Sara – you are in our thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

Christopher and I often discussed our shared love of sailing and the Chesapeake Bay – and so, my friend, I wish you fair winds and following seas. I know you have crossed The Bar into a much better place.

Tim McDonough
American Council on Education
Washington

I have known Chris and Millie since he was a cub reorter here in Greensboro in the early 80s. It has been fantastic to know him. We sailed together, told outrageous tales (occasionally with a modicum of truth), hunted, fished, and camped along with his growing family. Chris was always energetic about whatever he was doing or planning, full of life and spontaneous wit, always on the edge of some great adventure. After he left NC our visits were too seldom but they always started off as if I had been with him just the week before. He was aware of so much, always on top of everything about him, his interests were expansive and his opinions insightful. I was always proud of his accomplishments but certainly never surprised. It is a grande compliment to have been able to call him my friend and our world will be so much less in so many ways without him here with us.
Talmage M'c Minn

We have just learned of Christopher's passing. All of us at Illinois Central College who had the privilege of working with him are simply devastated. He was a wonderful colleague, and incredible advisor, and above all, a man of great integrity. Words cannot express how much we will miss him.