Mark James Simon

Mark James Simon, 68, passed away at Good Samaritan Hospital in Los Angeles on May 30, 2025, from cancer (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma).

Mark grew up in Canoga Park, Los Angeles. He was one of five children born to Ruth and Warner Simon, and spent his childhood doing adventures like hiking, boy scouting, skiing, and playing music. He attended Taft High School then majored in Welding Engineering at Ohio State University, afterwards returning to Los Angeles to work in the family business, United States Welding. He was a young father, raising his two sons with love and dedication. Mark was proud of his accomplishments as an engineer, as an integral part of his family business, and as a father.

Mark was unique, eccentric, and had many special qualities: honest, adventuresome, curious, sweet, appreciative, intelligent and independent. The Road Less Travelled poem, and the idiom of marching to the beat of a different drummer both describe Mark well. He had a healthy distrust of authority; however, he was often misunderstood though he meant well. He was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which had gone untreated for a long time and had gotten worse after a bicycle accident. The Road Less Travelled poem, and the idiom of marching to the beat of a different drummer both describe Mark well.

As the son of a Holocaust survivor, he converted to Judaism as an adult.

Mark is survived by his sons James and Chris Simon, his sisters Vivian Simon of Santa Cruz and Anita Simonson of St.Paul, two grandsons, and numerous nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Warner and Ruth Simon, and his brothers Donald and Edward Simon. Mark's final resting place is Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, CA.

A donation to NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) would be appreciated and go to an excellent organization. www.NAMI.org