Patric Simon

PATRIC “PAT” DAVID SIMON
“A Life Well Played”

First Quarter — The Opening Drive (Formation & Foundation)

Every life has a beginning shaped by those who stand it upright. For Patric David Simon, the true cornerstones were his mother whose quiet strength endured through illness and his older sister, Bernetta Wilkes, who helped carry the weight of responsibility when it mattered most. As his mother navigated life with multiple sclerosis, Bernetta played a central role in his upbringing, helping to shape his character, resilience, and sense of duty to others.

Together, they formed the foundation of who he would become, long before he ever led a team. Born in Baltimore, Maryland, on August 30, 1954, Pat was shaped early by purpose. His upbringing instilled in him a respect for structure, education, and quiet determination. At Frederick Douglass High School, he distinguished himself as both a student and an athlete, earning recognition as Most Valuable Wrestler in 1973 an early sign of the resolve that would define his path.

He carried those values into higher education, earning a Bachelor of Science in Physical Education from Johnson C. Smith University and a Master of Arts in Education from Clark Atlanta University. Committed to lifelong learning, he later pursued advanced leadership training at Saint Mary’s University in Minnesota, believing that leadership required continual growth, reflection, and responsibility.

Before collegiate sidelines and administrative offices, Pat devoted more than a decade to public education, serving as a teacher, coach, athletic coordinator, and assistant principal. Those formative years spent guiding young people through structure, accountability, and encouragement cemented the philosophy that would guide his life’s work: athletics and academics must move together, never apart, always in service to the student.

Second Quarter — The Long Drive (Stewardship and Scope)

As an athletic director and senior administrator, Simon was entrusted with programs across the country, including leadership roles at Saint Paul’s College, Lincoln University, Cheyney University, Langston University, Tuskegee University, Rochester Community and Technical College, Alcorn State University, and Allen University. In each setting, he strengthened academic support systems, modernized facilities, elevated institutional visibility, and insisted on accountability at every level. He understood that stewardship required courage sometimes making difficult decisions and care always keeping students at the center of every choice. His influence extended across campuses, conferences, and communities, leaving programs better positioned for the future than he found
them.

Halftime — The Reflection (Recognition & Respect)

Throughout his career, Pat was recognized for leadership, service, and integrity. Conference championships, national titles, academic honors, and Champions of Character distinctions followed his leadership not as an end goal, but as affirmation of the standards he upheld. Yet, his greatest pride was never found in trophies or titles. It lived in students who graduated, programs that stabilized, and young people who left his care better prepared for life than when they arrived.

Third Quarter — Building the Momentum (Calling, Character & Care)

What set Pat apart was not only how he led, but how he cared. He was articulate and thoughtful, creative in his approach, and generous with both his time and his spirit. He listened closely, spoke with intention, and gave freely whether offering guidance in moments of uncertainty or celebrating quiet victories others might overlook.

Although he had no biological children, Simon lived a life marked by fatherhood in its truest sense. He became a steady presence and guiding force to generations of athletes, coaches, and staff across every department he served. He corrected when needed, encouraged when it mattered most, and remained present long after seasons ended. His care was consistent, his expectations clear, and his belief in others unwavering. It was for this reason that many of these young athletes didn’t call him “Coach Simon” or “Mr. Simon,” but chose instead to call him “Pops.”

His influence extended far beyond game plans and job titles. It lived in late-night conversations, handwritten notes, second chances, and the quiet assurance that someone was always paying attention. For those he guided, leadership was personal and its impact enduring.

Fourth Quarter — The Finish (Legacy & Completion)

Patric knew when to push, when to pause, and when to let others take the lead. The plays changed, the seasons moved on, but the lessons earned through discipline and trust remain firmly in place.

On Tuesday, January 20, 2026, the final whistle sounded, signaling the end of his earthly season of play not in defeat, but in completion. A life spent loving family and friends, molding men and women, setting standards, giving freely of himself, and demanding excellence now rests in the record books where true impact is measured not by wins alone, but by lives changed along the way.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wives, Ida Ballard Simon and Cynthia Sellers Simon. Let to cherish his memory and continue his legacy are his loving “little big sister,” Bernetta Wilkes, and “the apple of his eye,” his niece, Angel Wilkes, along with a vast extended family of former athletes, coaches, colleagues, and students whose lives were shaped by his care. A Memorial Gathering will be held on January 28, 2026, 10:00 AM EST at Bentley and Sons Funeral Home at 3077 Pio Nono Avenue in Macon, GA.