Sam Simons

SIMONS, Sam Was born October 26, 1916 and passed away December 23, 2008 surrounded by family in Moorpark, California. He was born to immigrant parents in Los Angeles, the youngest of six children, graduating Los Angeles Polytechnic High School and Los Angeles Junior College and Frank Wiggins Trade School majoring in Engineering Design. Sam's distinguished career as an engineer and businessman helped pioneer the electronics, aircraft and space exploration industry in California. He contributed to the development of advanced radar systems in support of the United States involvement in World War II at Minneapolis-Honeywell and Hoffman Radio Corp. He later worked with Howard Hughes, supervising design efforts for new aircraft including the fabled Spruce Goose, and then on to TRW Space Systems, supporting the U.S. first space missions. In 1961 he founded RoMar Engineering which provided technical personnel support for virtually all of the major aerospace aircraft companies in Southern California. Sam was recognized numerous times over a span of four decades for contributions to the contract engineering industry while achieving an unparalleled hallmark of integrity and service at RoMar and later as an executive and Chairman of the Board of Martec Services. Sam was a founder of the National Technical Services Associations serving as an officer at the local and national level and participated in many other professional and community organizations. Sam and his bride Bette were married more than 68 years and traveled the world while raising a family and building a business. He enjoyed most being "Papa" to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, always providing a loving heart and a quick wit. He was a man of absolute integrity and fairness in his professional and personal life, and these characteristics along with an infectious sense of humor and engaging charm, attracted the love and admiration of everyone he touched. His love of automobiles began in the thirties after his brother gifted him an old Rickenbacker. He lettered in several sports in his school years and supported all of the Los Angeles sports teams, especially the Los Angeles Angels of the old Pacific Coast League, Dodgers, Rams and the Trojans. Sam was a long time resident of the San Fernando Valley and Agoura Hills and recently Moorpark. Sam is survived by his wife, Bette; son, Marty; daughter, Rosemary Grossman (David); grandchildren, Darren, Brian (Natalie), Matt and Whitney; and three great- grandchildren, Sammy, Austin and Alexander. Donations in his name to Hospice of Conejo (805)495-2145 http://www.thewisesource.org/hospice/ will be appreciated.