James Simmons, 92, longtime Emory professor

James Simmons was known as “Mr. Fix It” among family and friends. He could assemble, dismantle or repair just about anything.

As an educator, he made the concepts of physics, chemistry and technology come to life, and make sense for students at Emory University.

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Family photo

James Simmons, a Fernbank Science Center volunteer, taught at Emory University.

Mr. Simmons helped his two grandchildren with projects for Science Olympiads — an academic interscholastic science competition — when they attended Oak Grove Elementary School, said his granddaughter Jenni Simmons of Alexandria, Va.

“Most of the learning we got came from reading books about simple machines that were used in the competitions,” she said. “But he actually brought them in so students could work with them and see how they worked, how the relationship mattered. He was able to teach us in a way that made it more real to us, instead of just being an equation in a book. It made a big difference. We did well every time we competed, and I can’t imagine not doing that well without his help.”

James W. Simmons, 92, of Decatur died April 22 of blood poisoning at Emory University Hospital. The memorial service is 3 p.m. Monday in Cannon Chapel on the Emory University campus. An additional memorial service will be 4 p.m. May 9 at Central Congregational United Church of Christ in Atlanta. Wages & Sons, Stone Mountain, is in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Simmons attended graduate school at Virginia Polytechnic Institute. He earned a doctoral degree from Duke University in North Carolina. During World War II, he taught radar technology to officers at the Boca Raton Army Air Forces Base’s radar school. He was a professor of physics at Emory University for nearly four decades. He served as chairman and acting chairman of the school’s physics department.

Mr. Simmons’ granddaughter said his ability to make science interesting played a role in her career choice. She’s a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Alexandria, Va.

“He made me enjoy science,” his granddaughter said. “He made it more than equations on a blackboard. He made it fun.”

At home, the Virginia native took pride in building and repairing things. In a drawer, he kept a list of summer projects that he wanted to complete. When he tackled one, he made it a family affair, said a son, Jeffrey G. Simmons of Atlanta.

“No matter what he did,” his son said, “he got us out there helping. When he built a patio onto the house, it wasn’t just, ‘Go get me a tool.’ He tried to teach you what to do, why to do it that way. Everything was a learning experience.”

Mr. Simmons was known for sketching and drawing concepts that could be hard to grasp. When he volunteered at Fernbank Science Center, he assembled some Sony technology equipment that had arrived without instructions, his son said.

“He’s a physicist, so he knew a lot about electronics, optics and things like that,” his son said. “He could figure out how to put stuff together.”

Additional survivors include another son, James W. “Terry” Simmons of Jacksonville; a daughter, Kibbie Ruth of San Mateo, Calif.; five additional grandchildren; and a great-grandchild.