Samuel L. Simon, 97, died in Nyack, holding the hands of his beloved wife Elaine and daughters, Kathy and Meg,
Sam was born in Chelsea, MA to mother Mamie and father Morris. He was the youngest of four siblings, Ann, Sarah and James (Chickie), all of whom preceded him in death. Sam’s mother died soon after he was born, and Sam was raised by Kate Cohan, who Sam considered his mother. The Cohan family became Sam’s second family, and he remained close to them throughout his life. He was especially close to his “niece,” Sharon.
Sam received a B.A. in government and foreign affairs from George Washington University. GWU is where he met fellow student, Elaine Singer, who he married in 1950.
He then served in the Army Air Force, where, surprisingly, he trained in electronics and as a radio mechanic. Surprising, because he never again demonstrated any familiarity or interest in those subjects.
Sam had a passion for reading and libraries, and after service, attended Syracuse University, receiving an M.A. in library science.
His library career took him from Brooklyn Public, Merrick Library, Long Beach and, ultimately, Finkelstein Memorial Library in Spring Valley, NY. He retired in 1993 after more than 40 years in public service.
He reviewed books for the Library Journal publication. He served on many committees for the New York Library Association (Chairman of the Intellectual Freedom Committee), and the American Library Association. He proposed and saw to fruition the founding of the Merritt Fund, for librarians in financial distress due to the defense of intellectual freedom. Sam was the first elected president of the Public Library Section of NYLA.
He also served in executive positions with the Arts Council of Rockland, the Rockland Center for Holocaust Studies, the Rockland Youth Consortium, and the Loeb House Community facility for young adults and was a proud member of Jewish War Veterans. After retirement, he was active with CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates), working with children who were the subject of court cases related to abuse and neglect.
Sam was an inveterate letter writer. Old school, at first, but adjusted well to the computer and changing times. He wrote letters of admiration to authors, letters to elected representatives, and letters to the Editor at many newspapers. He last had a letter published in the NYTimes in 2022.
He read books and newspapers daily up until the week of his death.
He was a diehard Red Sox fan.
He was governed by love.