JOSEPH ROBERT SIMON

1938 - 2024

SIMON JOSEPH ROBERT Joseph Robert Simon, of Warrington, Pa, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2024. He was 85 years old. Joe was born on May 3, 1938, and raised in Northampton, Pa; the only child of Joseph and Elizabeth Simon (Karoly). He fell in love with the accordion at an early age and made weekly trips to Philadelphia for music lessons at the Jacob Neupauer Accordion Studio. He started performing at a young age on such shows as the Horn and Hardardt Childrens' Hour, and a big highlight of his life was being invited to perform on the Lawrence Welk Show when he was in college. He met the love of his life (Janice Ruth Anderson) through the accordion, when they were just 12 years old. They were at first competitors, and then life-long collaborators. Joe held Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Music Education from West Chester University and Temple University. He gave 39 years of service to the Philadelphia School District as a music educator at every level – from elementary through high school, and as one of the district's instrumental music supervisors, and a conductor of the All- City Public and Parochial High School Orchestra. He loved teaching in Philadelphia, and was immensely proud of his students. He influenced countless young lives in his capacities as a teacher and supervisor, and had many, many students who went on to achieve great success in all aspects of the music industry- from orchestral and studio musicians, to composers and teachers. He could also boast of having several former students in the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, as well as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Besides teaching, Joe's great love was his family. His wife, children and grandchildren were the pride and joy of his life. He also loved reading, his dog Teddy, his friends, telling corny jokes, playing the clarinet, classic cars and singing in his church choir. He led a long and very eventful life, and will be deeply missed. Joe was preceded in death by his wife, Janice Ruth Simon (Anderson), and three of their sons: Joseph Robert Simon, Jeffrey Todd Simon and Michael Dean Simon. He is survived by his daughter, Erica Jo Simon, and his son, Christopher Jon Simon and wife, Lisa Marie Simon (Nicoletti), along with five wonderful grandchildren: Maggy Lee Simon, Daniel Joseph Simon, Christopher Jon Simon, Jr., Joseph Michael Morris and Dylan Matthew Morris. Relatives and friends are invited to greet the family Saturday, Feb. 3, 2024 from 10:00 A.M. until the Funeral Service 11:30 A.M. at St. John's United Methodist Church, 820 Almshouse Rd., Ivyland. Interment will follow at Union Cemetery, Richboro, along with a reception. In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made in Joe's name to the AJ Foundation, https://ajfoundation.org/. www.fluehr.com