Sam Simon

Sam Simon of Sonoma, California died peacefully on September 29, 2014 at the age of 98. He was a decorated veteran of World War II serving in the Rainbow Division in 1944. He was severely wounded on the battlefield and was miraculously rescued by army medics who saved his life. Decade after decade he was convinced he wouldn’t make it to another decade until he lived past the age of his father’s death, 72, and then felt he would live forever. And he almost did.

He was born in Manhattan, New York, to Leah and Joseph Simon on August 11, 1916. He attended De Witt Clinton High School in the Bronx, and then attended City College of New York Uptown Branch at the young age of 16. He enjoyed sports both on the high school and college levels where he was a member of CCNY varsity La Crosse team. Then he went on to attend Columbia Law School in 1937, passing the NY Bar Exam in 1940. Sam practiced law only for short time before he was drafted into the army. Ironically, the injuries he sustained near Nancy, France left him with partially paralyzed vocal chords which prevented him from practicing court room law, his chosen field. His recovery time was slow and painful, involving several surgeries.   When he returned to the work world, he became a manufacturer’s representative in the burgeoning field of electronics. He remained in this field throughout life forming his own successful company, Cooper-Simon.

Sam met his lifelong partner and wife Martha Grinberg in 1940. They started their family before the war and had two more children by the early 1950’s. They moved from Brooklyn, NY to Great Neck, Long Island where they raised their family and resided for the next 40 years. They maintained their family home in Great Neck so the children and grandchildren could spend vacations with them. They were always keenly interested in the lives and activities of children and grandchildren often traveling throughout the year to visit one or another family in California, or New Mexico or Barcelona. Then in 1991, Martha and Sam moved to Delray Beach, Florida permanently where they lived until 2006 when they came to Sonoma to live at Sonoma Hills Senior Residence. Always wanting to be a Californian, Sam enjoyed his last eight years of life immensely. At Sonoma HIlls, Sam made great friends of the residents and staff where he felt deeply at home.

Sam was preceded in death by his wife Martha in 2008. He is survived by his three children, Jane Zimmerman of Sonoma, Lorna Simon Ramirez (Jany) of Barcelona, Spain, and Dr. Joshua Simon (Minerva) of Portland, Maine, nine grandchildren, and six great grandchildren. He is also survived by his sister, Augusta Petross of Seattle, WA.

All are welcome to a Memorial/Celebration of Life Gathering at Sonoma Hills, 405 W. MacArthur St., Sonoma on Sunday, October 19 at 3 p.m. followed by a reception. Donations can be made to Hospice by the Bay in the name of Sam Simon.