- Date Of Birth: September 28, 2006
- Date Of Death: October 6, 2022
- State: Connecticut
Nia Hailey Simpson, 16, of Ridgefield, died on Thursday, October 6, 2022. She was the beloved daughter of David and Safiya (Perry) Simpson.
Nia was born on September 28, 2006, in Norwalk, CT. Nia attended Ridgebury Elementary School, Scotts Ridge Middle School, and just began her Junior year at Ridgefield High School when she succumbed to an illness that baffled experts at Yale Children’s Hospital. Nia has always had a passion for sports and movement and aspired to become a sports medicine doctor.
Throughout her younger years, Nia took dance classes at the Ridgefield Recreation Center and Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance. Nia always dreamed big and during her elementary school years had aspirations of figure skating in the Winter Olympics, which meant she chose to spend countless hours training at the local ice rinks. During her middle school years, Nia participated on the SRMS Cross Country Team and Ridgefield Youth Lacrosse.
As an 11th-grade student at Ridgefield High School, Nia was active in student government as Treasurer of the Class of 2024 and was honored to be reelected by her peers for the past three years. During Nia’s Freshman year, she joined the RHS Freshman Volleyball Team. During her Sophomore year, she decided to get back on the ice and joined the RHS Varsity Girls Ice Hockey Team, where she was warmly welcomed by her teammates who truly made learning a new sport a joyful experience. Nia continued her love for sports and was a member of the RHS JV Girls Lacrosse Team her Freshman and Sophomore years. Nia loved the Ridgefield community and spent her past two summers volunteering with the Ridgefield Public Schools Summer Bridge Program. Nia was a friend to everyone she met. Her compassionate and courageous spirit will live on in all of our hearts.
Nia is survived by her parents, David and Safiya, as well as her brother Jalen and countless friends, teammates, coaches, classmates, and teachers. Nia was predeceased by her beloved elders, Velma Rogers, Bernice Vieira, Rachel Oles, Daphne Hercules, Charlene Clancy, Henry Hamilton, and Sheilah Griffith.
