Samuel “Sam” Simon
Samuel “Sam” Simon, 93, of Williamsport, passed away Sunday, June 30, 2019, in Pikesville, Md.
He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Sylvia (Kaplowitz) Simon.
Born Sept. 2, 1925, in Jersey Shore, Pa., he was the son of the late Hyman and Mary (Solomon) Simon and was predeceased by brothers Sidney and Julius Simon.
After graduating Jersey Shore High School, Mr. Simon proudly served in the U.S. Army and after his service, attended Bucknell University, graduating in 1949. That same year he joined the family business and became active in scrap metal recycling, nationwide industrial demolition and railroad construction. In 1973, he made the decision to install and operate in Williamsport one of the early scrap auto shredder facilities in the Mid-Atlantic region. Mr. Simon served for many years as president of Simon Resources, Inc. and, along with a number of other business pursuits, was a creative force for the establishment and operation of Chromagraphic Processing Company and Coastal Aluminum Rolling Mills, Inc., based in the city. In addition, for over two decades, he acted in a consulting capacity for Penn Recycling, Inc., also of Williamsport, and for the expansion of recycling facilities into a number of Pennsylvania and Maryland locations.
He was an active member of Ohev Sholom Synagogue for over 70 years and also served for many years as president as well as a fundraising chairman with the Williamsport Federation of Jewish Charities, a charitable organization he wholeheartedly supported.
Sam was an avid golfer and a Penn State and pro football fan. He enjoyed playing the piano, drawing, navigating on the river and had been an amateur pilot. He and Sylvia traveled together to numerous destinations, including visiting Israel and Europe five times, Alaska, the Caribbean, Canada and much of the United States. Winters were often spent in their Florida home and there were frequent trips to Atlantic City and Las Vegas, where he dutifully supported his wife’s pursuits there. Most of all, he loved spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, along with his wide circle of friends locally and in the region.
“He was a visionary who possessed tremendous integrity, charisma, an iron will and dogged determination, a great sense of humor, and typically said quite a lot with just a few well-placed words. In addition, his work ethic, humility, sense of fairness and regard for everyone as an equal no matter what their personal circumstances, set a wonderful example for our family,” said his eldest son, David.
“We believe the way he would have wished to be remembered is simply that he loved our mother, our family, his country, the Jewish people and the State of Israel, his work life, his many friends and humankind,” David added.
Along with his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Patricia Simon, of Warrington; four sons, David (Ruth) Simon, of Owings Mills, Md., Larry (Larissa) Simon, of Cogan Station, Ken Simon, of Morgantown, and Joseph (Jill) Simon, of Annapolis, Md.; six grandchildren, Louis Simon, Pikesville, Md., Miriam (Chanan) Rozenbaum, Brooklyn, N.Y., Jacob Simon, Sacramento, Calif., Benjamin Simon, Cogan Station, Noah Simon and Elijah Simon, Annapolis, Md.; and great-grandchildren, Jonah and Lyla Rozenbaum, Brooklyn, N.Y.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Williamsport Federation of Jewish Charities, P.O. Box 1973, Williamsport, PA 17703; or to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
Submitted by family.