The Naples Philanthropist Behind the Name
I find Simone Lutgert Gomez’s story most clearly in her community work. Publicly known more often as Simone Lutgert or Simone Chassin Lutgert, she has helped support children’s services, a museum, hospital programmes, and other causes in Naples, Florida.
She is also the mother of artist Lana Gomez and the mother in law of comedian Sebastian Maniscalco. Those entertainment connections bring wider attention, but her civic work developed over many years on its own terms.
Simone grew up in Pensacola, graduated from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, and worked in sales and advertising in Memphis. In 1996, she retired from that work and moved to Naples with her family. An exact birth date is not established.
A Career That Changed Direction
The move to Naples became a turning point. Simone began volunteering and eventually took on demanding organisational roles. I see a connection between her advertising background and later responsibilities involving creative direction, marketing, and fundraising events.
That does not mean every successful campaign can be credited to one person. It means her professional skills found a different setting. The work moved from selling products or services toward persuading a community to support shared needs.
Her public achievements include chairing the capital campaign for the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples. She described helping raise $26 million to build it. That is an institutional fundraising figure, not personal income or a measure of her wealth.
Scott Lutgert and a Blended Family
Simone married developer and philanthropist Scott Lutgert in November 2003. Scott chairs The Lutgert Companies and helped establish the Naples Winter Wine Festival. She became involved with the festival while they were dating.
In 2015, Simone spoke proudly of her three children. The combined family was described at that time as seven children, three sons in law, and eight grandchildren. I keep those two counts distinct: three children of her own and seven across the couple’s family.
| Family member | Connection to Simone | Publicly known role |
|---|---|---|
| Scott Lutgert | Husband | Developer and philanthropist |
| Lana Gomez | Daughter | Artist |
| Sebastian Maniscalco | Son in law | Comedian and actor |
| Serafina Simone Maniscalco | Granddaughter | Carries Simone’s name |
| Caruso Jack Maniscalco | Grandson | Younger child of Lana and Sebastian |
The 2015 grandchild total is a historical snapshot. It should not be treated as a current family census. Nor would I guess the names of Simone’s other children when they are not securely identified.
Lana Gomez and the Next Generation
Lana Gomez attended the University of Tennessee and became an artist. She married Sebastian Maniscalco in 2013. Their daughter Serafina Simone was born on 12 May 2017, and their son Caruso Jack arrived on 15 June 2019.
Sebastian explained that Serafina honoured his grandmother while Simone honoured Lana’s mother. I find that naming choice a particularly clear family connection: a grandmother’s name carried into another generation.
Lana also publicly thanked her mother after Serafina’s birth. It offered a glimpse of affection without opening the children’s everyday lives to scrutiny.
Claims about an earlier spouse of Simone appear in conflicting versions and are not established. The surname Gomez and the existence of a blended family do not justify inventing a prior marriage history or assigning parentage to Scott.
The Museum and Creative Fundraising
Simone’s museum work extended beyond the building campaign. With Joan Clifford, she helped reshape a fundraising gala in 2019 as Night at the Museum. The event used costume themes and entertainment to bring adults into the playful spirit of a children’s institution.
Attendance doubled, and fundraising rose to roughly $1.5 million. I see the event as an example of creativity serving a practical purpose. A memorable evening became a bridge to continuing educational work.
She also supported the Naples Botanical Garden’s Hats in the Garden luncheon, the Shelter for Abused Women and Children’s Women of Means programme, and hospital fundraising. She and Scott chaired the 2015 Magnolia Ball supporting oncology services.
Wine Festival Work and Community Needs
Simone served as Auction Day co chair for the Naples Winter Wine Festival in 2004 and as marketing and creative director in 2005 and 2007. She and Scott later helped chair the 2017 festival.
Her reflections have emphasised the needs of Collier County children. In 2025, she described being struck by the scale of unmet needs, even within an affluent community. Scott later credited her advice with helping push the festival toward strategic initiatives.
By 2026, he described more than $125 million directed to those initiatives within roughly $360 million raised overall. These are festival totals developed through many participants. I would never convert them into Simone’s personal net worth.
Her recognition includes being named a Woman of the Year in 2010 and inclusion in a local class of 25 people over fifty in 2015. Her exact finances remain private.
FAQ
Is Simone Lutgert Gomez Lana Gomez’s mother?
Yes. Lana’s family statements and the naming of Serafina Simone establish that relationship.
Who is Simone married to?
She married Scott Lutgert in November 2003. They have collaborated in Naples philanthropy for many years.
How many children does she have?
Simone described three children of her own. In 2015, she and Scott were described as having seven children between them.
What is her connection to the children’s museum?
She chaired the campaign that raised $26 million to build the Golisano Children’s Museum of Naples and later helped develop its gala fundraising.
