Howard B. Simon

On Friday November 25th Howard Broida Simon left this earth, one day before his 98th birthday. He died at the Renaissance in Bonita Springs, Florida where he had spent the last years of his life. Howard was born and grew up in McDonald, Pennsylvania, before moving to Buffalo with his father, Maurice Simon, after his mother, Jean Broida Simon, passed away when he was 10 years old. He always knew he wanted to be a doctor, and he stayed true to course, graduating from the Yale School of Medicine in 1948 right after completing his pre-med at Yale University in 1945. Howard did his residency at the esteemed Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN. He served as a medical officer in the Army and as a lieutenant in the Medical Corps Reserve of the Navy during WWII. He wooed, and then wed, Doris Virginia Gimbel on June 11, 1949, at Sherry’s in NYC. They had two children, Randolph and Laura, and settled in White Plains, NY, where Howard began his private urology practice after finishing military service. Their marriage ended in 1973 but their friendship lasted until her passing in 2020. Howard married Christiane Crepin and they spent 40 happy years together; they first lived in Rye, NY and then retired to Bonita Springs FL, where both were avid golfers, bridge and tennis players. Sadly, Christiane pre-deceased him in 2022. Howard was a big believer in “whatever you do, be the leader of it!”- And so he did, becoming the Chief of the White Plains Hospital Medical Center and then St Agnes Hospital 1968-1989. He also served as president of the Westchester County Medical Society (Urology Section) and the American College of Surgeons, Westchester County Chapter. Howard, (or “Kindly Doc Simon” as he liked to be called) loved collecting stamps and Mark Twain’s writings; he also enjoyed Broadway shows, traveling abroad, and all things Civil War. He led many outings to Civil War battlefields when he served as president of the New York City Civil War Roundtable. Howard loved telling stories about his colorful life, such as how, as a young naval officer, he was called up on stage before a huge live audience of the show “Truth or Consequences “and asked to pantomime a woman getting out of a corset and into a bathtub – which he did with relish, bringing down the house! He also loved telling about how he commandeered a tour plane in India that had become a political pawn, and his adventures traveling with the cast of the Broadway show, Call Me Mister. He was a kind and loving father and a devoted grandfather. Nothing delighted him more than spending time with his grandchildren. Howard was dearly beloved by the family he leaves behind: daughter Laura Simon and her husband Scott , son Randy Simon and his wife Sharon, grandsons Jack Kealey and William Simon, step-son Robert Black, his wife Claudia and step granddaughter Sophia Black. Doc’s family will be forever grateful to his two exceptional caregivers, Raidabell Felix and Franki Faris, who loved him as well. No services are scheduled at this time. To sign Doc’s guest register or to leave online condolences, please visit www.ShikanyFuneralHome.com Arrangements are being handled by Shikany’s Bonita Funeral Home & Crematory Family Owned and Operated Since 1978.

Howard B. Simon

November 26, 1924 - November 25, 2022