Snowbird Turned Local Meet (Former) Gulfportian Ken Simmons

By Ethan Perelstein

If you visited or lived in Gulfport circa 2021, it’s possible you passed by Ken Simmons standing outside the Gulfport Welcome Center on Beach Boulevard.

He may have looked a bit like Bernie Sanders, but much too tan and much too barefoot — not atypical for a Gulfportian. An Army man, Ken stand as straight as his polio-recovered body allows.

“Are you local?” he’d ask.

“Am I loco?” you might have responded, as many did, losing the last consonant to his bright, nasal accent.

After enough repetitions of this, Ken changed his opening line to “Are you a visitor?” Ken knew what there was to know about Gulfport, and was excited to share what a great place it is with others.

Two Decades of Memories

Ken first came to Gulfport as a snowbird with his wife in 2000. They enjoyed the Tuesday market and

First Friday art walk. They liked it enough to escape harsh Cleveland winters here for the next 20 years.

“The feeling of Gulfport has not changed in my view over that time. It’s always maintained that openness and friendly, accepting nature,” he said.

Ken’s wife, a psychologist who specialized in helping people through gender transition, saw Gulfport as a sanctuary. So did Ken, and they also appreciated Gulfport’s open, accepting nature.

His wife passed away from cancer in November 2020. Ken moved to Gulfport that Thanksgiving.

“Gulfport helped me through a very difficult time coming out of a relationship where my wife and I were soulmates,” Ken said. “I was coming to a community where you know nobody, and you’re going through the loss of somebody significant. It was kind of comforting to walk down the Tuesday Morning Market or the First Friday market knowing that we had walked past these same vendors together.”

After arriving in Gulfport and buying a shower curtain and a pump for his inflatable mattress, Ken was set and ready to give back. Within days, he started volunteering at the Gulfport Welcome Center and the Gulfport Historical Society. He also volunteered with Meals on Wheels and other local organizations.

“Having opportunities to use my skills and abilities in a way that would not only help them, but also help me through the process of developing a new life and overcoming grief,” made the difference, he said.

Welcome to Gulfport

Ken said his favorite memories in Gulfport are from his time volunteering at the Gulfport Welcome Center.

During his time there, due to what Ken calls “extremely bad” signage, volunteers often spent time waiting for people couldn’t find the center. In response, Ken kicked off his shoes and stood out on the deck. There, he welcomed and educated Gulfportians and visitors alike.

After living in Gulfport for one year, Ken moved to Westminster Shores. The Shores, a South St. Pete continuous care community, offered many benefits. However, it meant leaving behind many memories, good and bad, in Gulfport.

“It’s been difficult for me to come back [to Gulfport],” he said. “I’ve been coming back more often lately because I’ve been trying to overcome that because it’s an artificial barrier.”

After a few months away, Ken started coming back to Gulfport. To his surprise, people commented on his absence.

“It felt great because, who am I to be remembered?” he said. “I think we all minimize ourselves, especially when we’ve been going through a grieving process, and then to have someone say, ‘Where’ve you been? we’re so happy to have you back!”

“That really reinforces what I’d experienced in Gulfport all along,” he added. “Even though I had been away for a while, It’s still there, kind of welcoming me home.”

Planted continued from cover than the $1.5 million valuation by Pinellas County Property Appraiser.

The parcel holds two buildings. The smaller building faces 54th Avenue and houses Creative Play Preschool. SunFlower uses the main building, which faces 27th Avenue South.

Creative Play Preschool Director Susan “Kya” Belcher leased the smaller space on the property for 14 years to house what she calls a “farm school.” Students ages 3-7 play and work in the gardens, gather from fruit trees, and feed chickens and rabbits.

Creative Play hoped to purchase the property as well.

Ultimately, the Presbytery of Tampa Bay, the Dunedin-based umbrella for Tampa Bay-area Presbyterian churches, chose to sell the property to SunFlower. SunFlower renewed Creative Play’s lease.

Belcher declined to comment for this article.

Years Experience

A Special Thanks

“There were so many key players in making this dream become a reality. Countless people behind the scenes fundraised, made calls, and donated their money, time and expertise,” O’Brien explained. “We would like to give a special thanks to David Ottinger (SunFlower alumni dad and grandpa) who tirelessly supported us as our legal representative throughout these lengthy and complicated 16 months.”

“We received an incredible outpouring of support from the moment we started the SunFlower School House Campaign,” said Riveros.

The School House Campaign relied on legacy families and local partners to raise more than $500,000 in cash.

“We are grateful to Waterfall Bank, especially Andy Williams, who believed in SunFlower School when other banks hesitated,” said O’Brien.

When asked about future plans for the site, O’Brien said they want to preserve the history of the location.

“We are really excited to have more space and be able to beautify the school’s property, while preserving some of the style and the historical value of the Gulfport Presbyterian Church,” said O’Brien.

O’Brien credited Alyssa Marie Dunlap from the Happy Mural Project for painting a sunflower mural on the south side of the building.

“We are also having a local sign painter paint new signs that keep the historical feel of the previous signs, @sunsigns.stpete,” O’Brien said. “We plan to re-dream and design the green areas of the property and the courtyard.”

Safe Haven

“The SunFlower School is a safe haven for so many families.” Riveros said, “We are really grateful for the high interest in our school. We have a unique setting that is built largely on relationship building. As of now, we are mostly full and have a running waitlist for the 2023-2024 school year.”

“We are excited to continue the unique, rich educational experience we have been providing for over 50 years, while growing our community and adding permanent features to our new/old home. We are thrilled to stay in Gulfport and develop more of a bridge with the community,” O’Brien said.