Kenneth Alan Simon

Naps With Maya

Kenneth A. Simon sped through life with determination and left delight bobbing in his wake. "Everyone loved Kenny," said his wife, Karen.

He could cook chocolate chip pancakes for a crowd and thrill a small cousin by juggling balls, beanbags and finally, flaming sticks. He cheered for the Yankees, and when asked when he met his wife, would typically reply: "1996, the year the Yankees won the World Series." And when did they get married? "1998, the year the Yankees won the World Series."

But his fondest moments were those spent with his baby daughter, Maya. He napped on the couch, cradling her on his chest, Mrs. Simon said, and they took her on walks nearly every night, their dog Bailey close behind. Over Labor Day weekend, the Simons took Maya, then 4 months old, to South Street Seaport and showed her the very spot where they got engaged.

"Here's the reason we all loved Kenny so much," one of his aunts wrote for his memorial service in September. "From the first to the very last day, seeing how very, very much he loved Karen and Maya. Seeing the look on his face whenever one of them would come into the room, and seeing how happy he made them every single day, is something we will never forget."

Mr. Simon, 34, was an equities trader for Cantor Fitzgerald in 1 World Trade Center, where his father, Arthur, worked a few flights down.

Profile published in THE NEW YORK TIMES on November 22, 2001.



Kenneth Simon, 34, of Secaucus, New Jersey, a husband and father, an equities trader with Cantor Fitzgerald on the 104th floor. Donations may be made to Maya Simon Escrow Account (for Maya's education), c/o Jeffrey Fromm, Esq, 500 Fifth Ave, Suite 935, New York, NY 10110.