Dr. Bernard Simon

SIMON Dr. Bernard, 76, of Boca Raton, Florida, formerly of Wayne, NJ died on February 9, 2009 after a long and courageous bout with Parkinson's disease. Born in NYC, he grew up in Clifton, NJ and attended Clifton High School and Rutgers University. He was a brilliant man who graduated with honors from Northwestern University Medical School. Dr. Simon married Esther Linick of Passaic in 1958. They spent two years living in Ankara, Turkey where Dr. Simon was stationed while serving his country as a Captain and physician in the United States Air Force. Settling in Wayne in 1965, Dr. Simon opened an Obstetrics and Gynecology practice in his home office on Alps Road. In 1973, Dr. Simon associated with Dr. Seymour Eisner, also of Wayne, and started the Wayne Obstetrical Group, PA, which was later renamed the Associates in Women's Healthcare at 1777 Hamburg Turnpike.Dr. Simon was always smiling and managed to find time for everyone who crossed paths with him. He loved his work and is remembered by his family returning from the hospital at all hours of the day and night after delivering babies. He worked long hours to provide not just top quality medical care, but also the emotional support and empathy that made him beloved by his many Wayne area patients. His family fondly remembers so many occasions when patients would approach him at local stores and other venues expressing their love and respect for his kindness and compassion. He was a "jack of all trades" who preferred to spend his downtime tinkering around the house. To many people, including his family, he was the person to turn to to fix anything. Dr. Simon enjoyed traveling with his family and like most true New Jerseyans loved spending time every summer at the Jersey Shore. The family takes comfort in knowing he will be remembered fondly by all who knew him.Dr. Simon is survived by his wife of 50 years, Esther Linick Simon, son Michael and daughter in law Silke Ruh-Simon of Manalapan, NJ, son David of Palm Springs, CA, a daughter Wendy Simon-Garrity and son in law Joseph Garrity of Coral Springs, FL, three granddaughters, Sawyer and Reese Garrity and Olivia Simon, and sisters Jacklyn Jagust of Ft. Lee, NJ and Nathalee Lapidus of Summit, NJ. Donations may be made in his memory to National Parkinson Foundation, Inc., Office of Development, 1501 NW 9th Avenue/Bob Hope Road, Miami, Florida 33136-1494. www.parkinson.org