Daniel Roy "Jim Nasium" Simar

Danny Simar, 69, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, July 9 after a thirty-year battle with Multiple Sclerosis. 

He was born to Wanda and Roy Simar in Orange, Texas, where he spent the majority of his time stirring up “wholesome trouble” with his lifelong friends, Louis Blanda, John Blanda, Jim Edgerton, Gerald Reidmueller, and the late David Green. He attended St. Mary Catholic School until the tenth grade, then moved to Stark High School, where he was immediately voted Class Favorite by his peers and was awarded “Most Representative Student” by school faculty. It was also during his time at Stark HS that Danny developed his love of writing, for which he won various awards throughout his life. 

Soon after high school, he met and fell in love with Cheryl Boyd. Danny and Cheryl were married at St. Mary Catholic Church on December 18, 1976. 

After attending the University of Houston and Lamar University, Danny found a role as the sportswriter for the Beaumont Enterprise – winning multiple awards for his writing. Danny and Cheryl moved to Baton Rouge in 1979, when he accepted a position as the sports director for WJBO radio, calling sporting events for the LSU Tigers. After several years on AM radio, he moved to WFMF, where he developed a new morning radio persona - “Jim Nasium.”

Jim Nasium or “The Naze” became a household name in Baton Rouge. Teamed with his partner Randy Rice (and Margaret Taylor), they woke up the audience with music, information and Naze’s quick wit. Hundreds of people, including listeners, former co-workers, and media executives, have reached out to the family and the one word that keeps coming up over and over describing Danny is simply: nice. He was always nice to everyone. He never met a stranger, he truly listened to people, and he never complained. These qualities propelled Jim to the top echelon of radio personalities. In fact, the WFMF Morning Crew was consistently the highest rated show, not only in Baton Rouge, but in the entire country! 

No matter where the broadcast lead them on a particular day, Jim was there shaking hands, kissing babies and always, always having fun! Each day, at the close of the show, Randy and Jim had a saying that still rings true. “It’s been real…it’s been nice…but most of all it’s been real nice!” How appropriate, all these years later, that people still remember how real nice he was. 

Danny’s career afforded him many wild and unforgettable experiences – leading the Tiger Band onto the field at Tiger Stadium before an LSU game in his underwear, wrestling a black bear, playing a doubles tennis match with John McEnroe, giving away cars and other prizes to lucky listeners, riding atop the World’s Largest Jam Box in parades, broadcasting from a promotional billboard, and interviewing countless celebrities and sports figures. He loved a crowd. He loved a good time. And he loved a good joke. Both the broadcasting and Baton Rouge communities loved Jim Nasium – and he loved them back.

Danny’s career was cut short by a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in his early thirties. Despite his illness, Danny always maintained a positive outlook and never complained. He suffered with such grace, a trait he surely learned from his late mother, Wanda- who considered suffering to be a redemptive offering to Jesus. He leaned heavily on his faith and daily Rosary practice. Danny would say “if we knew how great Heaven was, we would want to die just to get there.” We know he got there, though those left here will miss him terribly. 

Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Wanda Simar, and is survived by his wife of 48 years, Cheryl Boyd Simar, his daughter Laney Simar Sanders, son-in-law Judson Sanders, sisters Diane Simar Vaughan (Chris), and Julie Simar Patronella (Sam), brother and sister-in-law Gilbert and Debbie Mazzola, his beloved grandchildren Shelby and Alice Sanders, and many other nieces, nephews and dear friends. 

A memorial service will be held at 3:00 pm on Saturday, July 13, 2024 at Claybar Funeral home in Orange, Texas, preceded by visitation at 1:00 pm at the same location. 

Honorary pallbearers are Louis Blanda, John Blanda, Judson Sanders, Gilbert Mazzola, Chris Vaughan, and Sam Patronella. 

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Aloysius Catholic School, 4001 Mimosa Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 70808, in Honor of Danny Simar/Jim Nasium. The funds will be used to support the needs of St. Aloysius students in a way that Danny would have wanted. 

The family thanks all of those who have reached out to share their wonderful memories of both Danny Simar and Jim Nasium.