Joseph Simon

Joseph R. Simon, of Fort Myers, Florida, passed away unexpectedly at his home on September 1, 2026, at the age of 91.

Joseph was born on June 18, 1935 in Tannersville, New York and son of the late Jacob Simon and Sophie (Gutman) Simon.  He is predeceased by his beloved wife of 64 years, Yvonne Meyers Simon. Joe and Yvonne met while attending Syracuse University, where their story together began and grew into a loving marriage.

After graduating Syracuse University, Joe moved his family to Loudonville, NY and began his professional career as a CPA at Shaye, Lutz, Schwartz and King, a local accounting and tax firm based in Albany, New York. Through his dedication and accomplishments, he became a partner in the firm.  The Firm ultimately merged with PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where Joe continued his career as a partner until his retirement.

Joe was known for his sharp business mind and his ability to see opportunities and solutions where others may not. A shrewd businessman and natural problem solver, he took great satisfaction in tackling challenges and finding thoughtful, practical solutions. These qualities served him well throughout his long and accomplished professional career.

Following his retirement from PwC, Joe continued to share his knowledge and experience with others. He taught accounting courses at SUNY Albany and his students always loved his “real life” war stories. He also worked for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, where he served as a Deputy Director of Internal Audit.

Joe’s commitment to his community was exemplified by his involvement in numerous organizations. He served as a past President of Congregation Ohav Shalom, the Daughters of Sarah and Colonie Senior Services, and donated time to various other community organizations.  In 1996, he was recognized by Bnai Brith as their “1996 Man of the Year”, recognizing his distinguished commitment to community service. Through these roles, Joe dedicated his time, leadership, and energy to causes and institutions that were important to him and to the community he called home.

Joe was also very proud of his work as an author.  He authored and published “Sophie – A Memoir of a Matriarch”, a book chronicling his mother’s life, including her journey to the United States and her experience raising a family in Tannersville, New York.  The book was a meaningful way for Joe to preserve his family’s history and honor his mother’s life and legacy.

Joe enjoyed an active life and especially cherished the time he spent with family and friends.  He and Yvonne loved playing golf and tennis together, and they enjoyed playing cards and games with their children and grandchildren.  Joe had a lifelong love of words and could often be found playing “Word” online with members of his family. In his later life, he continued to enjoy and active social life, playing bocce on weekends with his friends in The Legends Community.

Joe will be lovingly remembered by his family, including his three children: Mark (Tracey) Simon, Sheryl (Leonard) Motto, and Scott (Jill) Simon, and his grandchildren: Jenna Simon, Tara (Lars) Anderson, Alexa Simon, Rachel Chick, Kolby (Krista) Simon, Jake (Kaija) Simon and Amanda Simon. He is also a proud Opa of his three great grandchildren: Avery Anderson, Kayce Simon, and Sophie Anderson, who brought him great joy.

Joe leaves behind a legacy of family, friendship, professional achievement, community service, and a lifelong curiosity and love of solving problems.  Most of all, he will be remembered for the time he shared with the people he loved.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who had the privilege of knowing him.

Funeral services will be held at the Ohav Shalom Cemetery, Church Road, Guilderland, on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 11:00 a.m.

Mourning will be observed from 4 pm to 8 pm on Tuesday, September 8, and Wednesday, September 9, at the Community Room at 11 Elks Lane, Latham, NY.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Joe’s memory may be made to Congregation Ohav Shalom or the Colonie Senior Services Fund, both in Albany, New York.

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