Sanford ‘Sandy’ Simon, 92: A Man
Who Spent His Life While He Had It
Sandy Simon (born Sanford Simon), age 92, of Guttenberg, New Jersey, died on Friday, December 29, 2023, after a brief illness.
Sandy was born in Harrison, N.J., to Milton Simon and Bea (Kotel). He was an only child who grew up in the Weequahic section of Newark. Sandy served in the Army during the Korean War as a Second Lieutenant. He attended the University of Pennsylvania, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in marketing from the Wharton School. He met his future wife, Arlene Krasnor, while at Penn and the couple married in 1956 at the Savoy-Plaza in New York City.
Sandy, who moved to Westfield in 1964, started his career in the oil business working for Mobil and Hess. One of his marketing innovations was starting the Hess Toy Truck at Christmas program that continues today. After a few years in consulting, Sandy started the investment banking firm American Corporate Services, specializing in cross-border mergers and acquisitions.
Sandy was an avid reader and writer, authoring two books: “Managing Marketing Profitability,” published in 1969, and “Chance Encounter,” in 2008. He was a sailor for many years before deciding he liked being under the water better; he learned to SCUBA dive in 1984 and logged over 400 dives in his lifetime, mostly in Bonaire. Sandy was active in UJA and was very involved in class and alumni activities for the University of Pennsylvania.
His wife, Arlene, was a substitute teacher in the Westfield Public Schools district from 1964 to 1978. She died in 2013. Sandy met Lenore Fiddelman Simonoff in late 2013 and they have been committed, loving partners for over 10 years. Sandy is survived by Lenore and his children, Michael Richard, born in 1959,WHS Class of 1977, and Sharon Rebecca, born in 1960, WHS Class of 1978. Michael married Karen Kessler in 1986 and Sharon married Dr. Steve Katz in 1984. Michael still resides in Westfield with his wife and their children grew up in Westfield. Five grandchildren include Barry, Seth and Jason Katz (wife Sharon),Alison (WHS 2013) and Lisa Morgan Simon (WHS 2015) (wife Karen). Two great-grandchildren, Annie and Ramona, were born to grandson Barry Katz and Julia Pence in November 2019. Alison married Brandon Odze in 2019.
A graveside service was held at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge on Sunday, December 31. Arrangements were entrusted with Menorah Chapels at Millburn.
Sandy said his epitaph should be: “Here lies one who spent his life while he had it.”
January 11, 2024
