Simone Joy Zamore-Curbelo Obituary in New York at Bailey's Funeral Home

Obituary For Simone Joy Zamore-Curbelo

Simone Joy Zamore-Curbelo was born December 26, 1977 in New York City. She spent her early days in Edison, New Jersey, where she first formed her love of music and dance. Simone began her energetic and spirited passion for performance in Franklin Township (Somerset), New Jersey, where she acted and sang in numerous school plays and choirs. At home, Simone enjoyed entertaining visitors by putting on impromptu plays with her two younger siblings. Simone excelled in all things she approached. At Franklin High School, Simone won the All-State tennis doubles championship, and was also a NJ All-State vocal soloist. She then received a scholarship to Princeton University, where she majored in English with a focus on Theater. At Princeton, Simone performed in plays, was a member of the Triangle Theatre Company and worked closely with Pulitzer Prize winner and Nobel Laureate, Toni Morrison, before she graduated in 1999. Simone was beautiful, intelligent and held a remarkable talent and skill to entertain. Look out millennium, here comes Simone!

Simone enjoyed singing, dancing, laughing and sharing her talents with others, as witnessed in her numerous performances. She moved to Queens, New York to pursue stage performance, joining the Actor’s Equity Association, performing in off-Broadway plays and shows. She also worked at Kaplan, Inc., where she began creating training materials and tutoring students, which she continued for over 20 years. She merged her love of teaching with the love for the stage with Prospect Theater Company, eventually becoming the Director of Education. After dating for 10 years, Simone married her husband, Rodrigo Curbelo on July 16, 2010, in Antigua, West Indies. Shortly after, earned her Masters in Arts Education from Harvard University School of Education.

Of all her achievements, Simone’s greatest joy was being Mom to her son Cobain, born January 2016. Through his early childhood years, Simone had been an active volunteer in the school community and the PTA, participating in many school events. Throughout all of Astoria, Queens, where she lived for her last 20 years, Simone’s face and laugh became widely known. Simone had a generous heart and was quick to support others. In 2021, Simone joined Hope Church NYC, where she sang with the worship team, and taught Sunday school. Simone’s love for the church and God brought her fulfillment in life, saying it was the culmination of her singing career.

Simone passed away suddenly from a ruptured brain aneurysm on January 4, 2024. A devastating and sudden loss to family and friends alike, Simone’s passion for life and compassion for others will be greatly missed. She is survived and mourned by her son, Cobain, husband, Rodrigo Curbelo, siblings, Kherry Zamore and Shaz Zamore, parents, Pattie Zamore and McFord Zamore, and a large, loving community of family and friends.

A Celebration of Simone's Life will be held at Hope Church NYC - Midtown in Manhattan, New York on Saturday, January 27, 2024 at 1pm. The family is also planning a future celebration at a later date as Simone loved a good gathering.

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Living across from Simone, I remember one Summer hearing music pouring out of her open windows. With her eclectic taste and deep admiration for all things musical, it ranged from some classics, rock, show tunes, Beyonce, and more!
From across the street, Cobain could be heard belting his little heart out to each one which was just the cutest thing (he is named after a famous musician after all).
The song I heard on repeat though was either "Call Me Maybe" or "Teenage Dream" by Katy Perry. When I joked about this to Simone she just rolled her eyes at Cobain's music choice (I mean... he was only 6), and that didn't discourage her from trying to broaden his musical catalog.
- Chelsea

Chelsea White

I am so deeply saddened by the death of Simone...I have good memories of Simone as a wonderful friend with Rebecca. Your family was always warm and welcoming. My thoughts are with in this most painful loss...Joan deVelder

I will forever remember your big infectious smile, your laughter, your beautiful voice and oooh how you were born for the stage. You, my dear cousin, truly lived up to your name - you were JOY! Thank you for being such fun to be around. You are at the centre of all my memories of New Jersey. Fly high sweet butterfly...fly high.
Love, Sheryl

Simone: A bright light. A beautiful spirit. A loving heart. A wonderful person. May your soul rest in eternal peace. Lucia

I remember our summers in New Jersey, playing in the pool and making Dusty "dance". My freshman year in college when I visited you at Princeton and you showing me around campus. Always smiling. RIP cuz.
Brian

Dear Simone, we will dearly miss you here on earth, but I'm pretty sure we will meet each other somewhere else.... You were always so joyous, happy and that smile on your face was giving us life and positive vibes! I'm pretty sure Cobain will always be proud of you! Eva says...thank you again for your lovely clay musical instrument!,she will remember you and Cobain always! Rest in Peace, dear friend !!!
Maria K.

May the memory of Simone continue to be a blessing to her entire family and all of her friends. The song goes on

My dear friend in heaven, Thank you for everything you meant in our lives. You were such a good person to everyone that one that knew you, with a talent and smile that will fill our spirits forever. I will hold close the memories we shared. Your friends from all walks of life will miss you. But I know that you will sing to us from heaven with all the other angels. I will pray over your precious son in the years to come. May God comfort him always. Until we meet again my friend.

If I could be there, this is the story I would tell:
I first met Simone in very early 2000. She was at the GMTW program at NYU where I was a first year MFA student. I was planning my thesis and was still very unsure what to do. I heard her in another student's project and was just mesmerized by her. "THAT is a voice I want to write for," I thought.
After the performance, I approached her to speak. This has never been something easy for me. I always feel incredibly awkward in social situations, and I never feel comfortable meeting new people; and here I was meeting someone of whom I was now officially a fan so that added a whole new layer of anxiety. I introduced myself, and Simone smiled and reciprocated... and I was at ease. In a way I can't describe or explain, her smile and warmth put me at ease. Long story short: I begged her to be in my thesis musical.
"What's it about?" she asked.
"I'm not sure yet."
She laughed. Tinkling bells. "Well, then how do you know you'll have a part for me."
"Because there has to be."
Fast forward a month. My collaborator and I have finally decided on a general idea for the story. I go back to my apartment in Park Slope and begin writing. I have the little headshot card Simone gave me. I tape it to the board above my desk, and stare at her: "What do you want to sing?"
Over the next several months we hammered out the story; a reimagining of Salome. It was a story of two friends, Salome (played wonderfully by Rebecca Simon), and Kaila the lead dancer in the palace. All I ever thought was "what do you want to sing?" And I couldn't wait for rehearsals.
Rehearsals began, the cast assembled for the first read-through/listen and the response from them was FAR more than I expected or hoped. Then we hit rehearsals. That afternoon, I sat in a practice room in that tiny space on 2nd Ave with Simone helping her learn her big song in the show, "Flower in The Desert."
I kept messing up.
I WROTE THIS SONG!!!
"I'm sorry! This is a newer version, and I don't have it down yet," I lied.
The truth was I was overwhelmed by her singing this song. It was so much more than perfect; so much more than I ever dreamed.
A couple of days pass and I am in that mood that, I guess (or hope) many writers experience just before the first performance, which is to say, bad. I ran into Simone in a practice room writing in her journal. I apologize for intruding and go to leave, but she asked me to stay.
"What's wrong?" she asked.
I've interacted with this woman for less than three days, and she just knew.
I started gushing: "This show is stupid... It doesn't make sense... The songs are trite and predictable..." and on and on.
She sat there listening like we were lifelong friends and I had somehow earned the right to dump all this negative thinking on her.
By the end of my diatribe, I was teary... She reached out and took my hand and said "No, James. Everything is going to fine. The show is great. I LOVE these songs. 'Flower in the Desert' is one of favorite songs I've ever sung. Everybody else is going to love it too." She went on to talk about how she had seen this kind of thing before; how it was normal, and I shouldn't feel bad for thinking it.
And, so help me God, I believed her. And I felt better. Not BETTER better, but less anxious.
Later that day we had our performance. The Black Box theatre was overflowing with people. I was seated in the second row right in front of Simone (I still don't know how that happened. I wanted to sit outside.) The show started, and it was fun. The cast had a great time with it, Simone and Rebecca interacted beautifully. Then came "Flower in The Desert." But let me come back to that.
The show ended (Big Rock Concert ending), and the audience exploded in applause. Adam, my collaborator, and I stood up and acknowledged the praise, and as I sat down, I saw Simone's face. She was locked in on my eyes, and she was beaming. She gave me a little wink and I saw her mouth "I told ya so."
And that moment, that look on her face... like she was PROUD of me - practically a stranger... I've carried that moment with me ever since. I have had increasingly frequent lows since then with rare moments of joy. Always, right there in a corner waiting for me was Simone, her smile, her "gotcha" wink, and her gift: "No, James. Everything is going to fine."
I often listen to the recording we made of the performance. I am torn about her song. The performance is PERFECT. But it was too short. I'm always mad when it ends.
It is no exaggeration to say that, even though we have talked very few times since 2001, she has sustained me. Her light, her love, her positive attitude, her certainty... Her smile and a wink. They have been a light to me in the dark times since.
Today, the world seems darker somehow for her absence.
I want to say:
The stars are not wanted now: put out every one; Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun; Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood; For nothing now can ever come to any good.
But then I open the door to that practice room, and I see her; and her light pushes back the dark, and she says "No, James. Everything is going to fine."
And, so help me God, I believe her.

A beautiful, captivating larger than life creative. It was both blessing to meet you and experience your essence.xx
Janet Silvera (Zamore) (London UK)

My one and only twin cousin (we were born in the same year). So glad that after years of making plans we got to hangout last Summer. I watched my first Broadway show (Coby's first too) with you. We laughed, we talked about so much, we ate delicious food. We made plans for next time, but sadly that won't happen. Heartbreaking.
She lived Stunningly as Simone Joyfully as Joy And proudly as part of the Zamore and Curbelo Clan. I'm so thankful for every part of our last visit that was a long time coming. She was a bright light and kind soul that we lost way too soon. I'm forever grateful that you were my twin cousin and friend. Rest easy cuz. Miss you. Love you.
Irene, Zoie, and the Corriettes.