Troy Anthony Simoncelli

Troy Anthony Simoncelli, age 29, passed away on April 21, 2022 in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.  He was born on March 25, 1993 to Susan Vaill of Bethlehem and George B. Simoncelli, Jr. of Torrington.  He was employed as a golf caddie at Pinehurst No. 2 and was working toward becoming a PGA caddie.

From an early age, Troy loved all sports–participating, watching, reading, and critiquing.  He had an incredible memory and could recite almost any statistic about golf, football, basketball, and baseball.  He was an avid golfer and played any chance he could get.  He was very caring and compassionate and would help anyone that needed it.  He was a good friend to many.  During 2020 he helped people navigate the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance program which was a very complicated process.

He grew up in Goshen, attending Goshen Elementary School and moved with his mother and sister, Francesca, to North Carolina when he was in 5th grade.  He played basketball and baseball, was a member of Boy Scout Troop 98, and was selected to be on the Math Team at West End Elementary School.  He was also selected to participate in the People to People Student Ambassador Program and visited Washington, DC in 2004.

Troy and his family moved back to Connecticut, and he went to Woodbury Middle School for 6th and 7th Grade.  He won the 6th grade Geography Bee and played basketball and midget football.  For 8th and 9th grades, Troy attended Chase Collegiate School in Waterbury and played on the basketball, baseball, and golf teams. Finally a school with a golf team, which he was thrilled about.  He returned to public school for his sophomore, junior, and senior years, and graduated from Nonnewaug High School in 2011.  In high school he played varsity basketball and football.

Troy attended the University of Montana majoring in journalism.  He loved the mountains and snowboarded often with his friends.  After college he worked for the Senate campaign of Republican Linda McMahon, did landscaping, house painting, and some construction work before finding his love of golf.

Troy began to self-medicate with drugs in his adult years and after attending many drug rehab programs, was finally diagnosed with ADHD, schizophrenia, and manic bipolar disorder.  For the last two years, Troy was sober but struggled at times with his mental health.  He moved to Pinehurst, North Carolina in 2021 and was employed by Caddiemaster, a lifelong dream of his. His family and friends were incredibly proud of him for taking this opportunity.  

On April 21, while driving to the Pinehurst Hospital for an adjustment of his mental health medication, Troy crashed his car and was airlifted to the Trauma Center at UNC Medical Center at Chapel Hill.  Despite numerous calls to the Trauma Center by his mother and father to evaluate him for his mental health before releasing him, he was discharged and took his life minutes after walking out of the hospital.

Troy’s family wishes to highlight that mental health is a very serious problem in this country and should never be ignored on any level.

Troy is survived by his parents, his sister Francesca Simoncelli of Torrington, his step-brother, John Simoncelli of Harwinton, his grandmother, Violet W. Vaill of Bethlehem, his best friend, Nick Switz of Watertown, and the extended Simoncelli family.  He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents, Doris and George Simoncelli of Litchfield and maternal grandfather, Gordon Vaill of Goshen. 

Donations may be made in memory of Troy to: Greenwoods Counseling & Referrals, Inc., 25 South Street, P.O. Box 1549, Litchfield, CT 06759.  Please include “In Memory of Troy Simoncelli” on the memo line of your check.  Donations can also be made online to greenwoodsreferrals.org by clicking on the “donate” button. online memorials www.phalenfuneral.com

Open House and Remembrance for Troy Simoncelli
Please join Troy's family and friends for an Open House on Saturday, June 25 from 2-5 pm at Susan Vaill's home, 55 East Street in Bethlehem.  At 4:15 pm memories will be shared.  Anyone who is uncomfortable speaking may write their memories down, and they will be shared by a member of Troy's family.  Troy, who was 29, passed away on April 21, 2022 in North Carolina.  A charity in Troy's memory will be announced at that time as well as a golf tournament. 
 

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