Richard Simmons held “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” in his hometown one last time on Saturday.
The New Orleans-born pop culture fitness guru’s family, friends and fans, some wearing Simmons’ trademark tank tops and shorts, gathered after a memorial mass at St. Louis Cathedral. participated in a short training session at the gates of Jackson Square.
They waved their arms in freestyle swimming motions, much like the ever-positive, always-energetic Simmons often did on his 1980s TV show and in his “Sweatin’ to the Oldies” workout videos. It fluttered.
It was a fittingly joyous and loud send-off for the New Orleans native, who wore a Swarovski crystal-encrusted tank top and preached the gospel of exercise and self-respect.
Simmons was found unresponsive on the floor of her bedroom in the Hollywood Hills on July 13, the day after her 76th birthday. The Los Angeles County coroner ultimately concluded that his death was complications from multiple falls and that heart disease was a contributing factor.
Lenny Simmons, brother of the late fitness guru Richard Simmons, met Richard at St. Louis Cathedral on Saturday, October 5, 2024, with friends, fans, and family. After mass at the cathedral, a gathering of fans attended the event. The commemorative training was followed by a brass band procession. (Staff photo by John McCusker, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)
Staff photo: John McCucker
He was buried at the Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park and Mortuary in Los Angeles, the resting place of many famous people, from Marilyn Monroe to Hugh Hefner to Truman Capote.
The funeral in Los Angeles was small, with only eight people in attendance, Simmons’ brother said in a eulogy on Saturday.
“We made a promise to my brother that we would celebrate his life in our hometown,” Renee Simmons said.
He fulfilled that promise on Saturday.
Milton became “Richard”
Hundreds of people attended St. Louis Cathedral, where Renee Simmons opened the service by speaking for 11 minutes about her brother’s personal and professional history.
Born Milton Teagle Simmons on July 12, 1948 at Touro Infirmary Hospital, he was named after his uncle Milton, whose nickname was Dick. Therefore, young Milton’s parents called him “Dickie”.
Exercise guru Richard Simmons (center) holds Carolyn Campbell, 22, left, and Amanda Borenstein, 22, on stage at Harrah’s Casino in New Orleans in September 2008. and have them exercise together in front of an audience, then point them out.
File photo: Chris Granger
The Simmonses attended St. Louis Cathedral Parish School and its historic church, and then Corges High School, which later merged with St. Aloysius to form Brother Martin High School.
As a young man, Milton had a tendency to overeat and gain weight. During his senior year at Col Gesu College in 1966, he considered joining the priesthood, but ultimately decided it was not for him.
After graduating from Florida State University, he briefly moved to New York and then returned to New Orleans. He spent two years as a traveling cosmetics consultant. Along the way, he adopted the more “professional” name Richard, based on his old nickname “Dickie”.
He landed in Los Angeles in the early 1970s and worked as a waiter and maître d’être at an Italian restaurant called Delek’s in Beverly Hills. His outgoing personality and sense of humor charmed the crowd.
During a visit to New Orleans in September 2008, exercise guru Richard Simmons led a crowd at Harrah’s Casino to stretch their muscles.
chris granger
He also became interested in fitness. He eventually opened an exercise studio named Slimmon’s, welcoming and supporting overweight patrons. Simmons himself has lost more than 100 pounds.
A Hollywood producer offered him a recurring role as himself in the soap opera “General Hospital.”
That’s where Simmons’ career began. He launched the nationally syndicated show “The Richard Simmons Show” in 1980. He has written books and sold millions of VHS and DVD copies of his workout tapes. He often appeared on talk shows and game shows. He and David Letterman, in particular, had a teasing banter over the years.
Simmons spent more than half the year traveling around the country, meeting with fans, teaching training classes and promoting the product.
“Is this what God planned for him?” Renee Simmons asked rhetorically. “Yes, it was. Because God wanted him to help people by having fun, to motivate people, to encourage people to be healthy and lose weight.”
“Sweat with the saints”
Simmons abruptly withdrew from public life in 2014, sparking speculation about his health and safety on his podcast and TMZ series. The retired star occasionally posted on social media, but otherwise spent the next decade living quietly in Beverly Hills with her Dalmatian and housekeeper.
Still, his death shocked fans. The New York Times obituary headline declared him the “Clown Prince of Fitness,” citing a 1981 People magazine profile.
In Saturday’s eulogy, Renee Simmons said that in her casket, she will be “wearing a tank top and shorts under her beautiful clothes, just like Clark Kent.”
“We wanted to make sure he was wearing the normal costume that we all know and love to help the saints and angels get in shape.”
Friends and family gathered at St. Louis Cathedral on Saturday, October 5, 2024, to say goodbye to New Orleans-born health and fitness celebrity Richard Simmons. After Mass in the cathedral, a gathering of fans took part in a commemorative training session, followed by a commemorative ceremony. Brass band procession. (Staff photo by John McCusker, The Times-Picayune | NOLA.com)
Staff photo: John McCucker
To laughter and applause, he concluded: “Richard Simmons will forever be sweating with the Saints.”
In his sermon, the priest said: Pat Williams talked about how some people “can always bring a smile to our hearts.” I think Richard was one of them. I couldn’t help but smile in front of him. ”
He continued, “I encourage you to cherish all those memories every time you watch these videos.”
Following Holy Communion, a recording of Richard Simmons’ original song “I Pray” set to an uptempo club beat was played over the cathedral’s speakers.
Before the closing prayer, Father Williams said, “You heard well, let’s pray.”
Outside the Cathedral, a short training session unfolded to the cacophonous soundtrack of a typical Saturday in Jackson Square. A brass band then led a second procession past Lucky Dog vendors and the plaza’s psychics and artists to Decatur Street.
Marchers waved blue commemorative fans emblazoned with his silhouette and the motto, “I’m a Richard Simmons fan.”
At Toulouse Street, the band performed the gospel standard “I’ll Fly Away.” Marchers occasionally shouted declarations similar to Simmons’s: “Feel the burn!” “You’re perfect!”
At Conti Street, the band performed “You Are My Sunshine,” a song that Simmons undoubtedly sang for millions of fans.
The parade dispersed on Bourbon Street outside Musical Legends Park in front of the statues of Fats Domino, Pete Fountain, and Al Hart.
You’ll never sweat the oldies again.
