09-02-2025
Friends and family gather to celebrate the life of Bridge Walk co-founder Benjy Simpson
LANSING, WV (WVNS) – Benjy Simpson Jr., the co-founder of Bridge Walk passed away recently, leaving behind a life full of adventure and fun.
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Simpson passed away on January 25, 2025.
Simpson was a man of many talents and hobbies, but one thing that many people know him from is his dealings with Bridge Walk. Simpson was one of the co-founders of this activity that has attracted people from all fifty states and 80 different countries.
Simpson's love for the outdoors was contagious to say the least. Contagious enough that he spread that love to his son, Benjy Simpson III.
'Dad loved the outdoors. He loved teaching people, and he had a very interesting job where it wasn't sitting in an office. It was traveling to trade shows and different schools, putting up zip lines, and climbing walls. When he was in season, he would be taking people down the river. So, I got to stay at the campgrounds. I got to work behind the scenes and hand out wetsuits and stuff,' said Simpson III.
What many do not know about Benjy Simpson Jr. is his back story.
Not only did he play college basketball and tennis at North Carolina State University, but he also served in the US Army.
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Simpson had a passion for reaching out to the youth of the community, starting with his creation of a program called Encounter 4. This continued when he moved to West Virginia in 1984 to start Passages to Adventure. This program combined whitewater rafting, climbing, and youth outreach.
In 1994, Simpson burst onto the scene at Bridge Day, which later led to the opening of Bridge Walk in 2009.
'People come up and talk about the doors that he has opened for them or they have taken his message and continued on with it. That means a lot,' added Simpson III.
Benjy Simpson III told 59News one thing that he hopes many can learn from his father.
'One thing that frustrates me the most is – he was very optimistic, overly so. Like things would always work out. I went to school…I became an industry engineer, and I like to have like plans. [I would] be like, 'It is probably not going to work out probably right?' He would have all these different plans. He was like, 'We are going to make this work.' He would get people to do the High Line, he would get people to go out on the Bridge Walk, and we would be like, 'Oh, for we don't have staff to do it today.' He [would be] like, 'We will figure it out.' 'Oh, come on, we are going to get you to get you out there.' Whenever he was in an opportunity that he could share something with someone, he was not out for the fame. He was not out for like money or glory or anything like that. It is just he wanted people to be involved. I think everyone could probably benefit from a little bit more optimism. Maybe with a little bit more backup plans, but he always made it work,' said Simpson III.
Benjy Simpson III is starting a memorial fund in honor of his father. This fund will be used to focus on STEM programs for middle and high schoolers in West Virginia. He is raising these funds in conjunction with the West Virginia Division of Highways.
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If you wish to send money or a check by mail, you can send it to:
Benjy Simpson Memorial Fund (c/o DOH Bridge Design and Build Contest), Fayette County National Bank, PO Box 209, Fayetteville WV 25840
If you would like to send money through Venmo, you can send a note with 'Memorial' in the description to @Benjy-Simpson.
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