(L.A.) Arthur Simoneau, 69, Died in Topanga

Case Number: 2025-00595

Los Angeles County is reporting the death of a 69-year-old male that occurred at his residence.

The coroner’s office has identified the man as Arthur Simoneau.

Manner of Death: Accident

Cause of Death: Inhalation of Products of Combustion and Thermal Injuries

RIP ARTHUR SIMONEAU (February 15, 1955 – January 9, 2025)

Formal pronouncement of death was made on Thursday at 4:00 p.m.

The decedent perished in the Palisades Fire. His remains were found in the 22100 block of Swenson Drive in Topanga.

Arthur Simoneau was a pioneering figure in the Southern California hang-gliding community, known for his deep commitment to the sport for over four decades. He was recognized as one of the few remaining “old-timers” who helped popularize hang gliding during an era when enthusiasts often built their own gliders from hardware store materials. Simoneau was a fixture at local flying sites, regularly hang-gliding every weekend, and was remembered for his barefoot or sandal-clad flights, embodying a free-spirited, bohemian lifestyle that resonated with his Topanga community.

Returning from a ski trip in Mammoth, he learned of evacuation orders for his Topanga home but chose to head back, aiming to defend his property as the fire approached. He was found near his doorway, apparently having succumbed to asphyxiation while trying to save the home he had built by hand. Friends and family described him as a calculated risk-taker—fearless yet careful in his pursuits, whether flying, skiing, or riding motorcycles.

Topanga is an unincorporated community in western Los Angeles County located in the Santa Monica Mountains, specifically in Topanga Canyon and the surrounding hills. The southern coastal portion of Topanga lies between Malibu and the Los Angeles neighborhood of Pacific Palisades, but it is distinct from Pacific Palisades itself.