Saul Simon

Saul Simon, 84, long-time West Hartford, CT resident and former President of Plastic Distributors, Inc., passed away at Mayview Rehabilitation Home in Raleigh on February 22. Mr. Simon was born in Hartford, CT on Sept 20, 1921. He spent most of his childhood in Providence, RI, but returned to Hartford, CT after service in the Pacific during World War II. He graduated from Hillyer College, now part of the University of Hartford, and was married for more than 50 years to Faye Weiss Simon, a Hartford, CT native who was a graduate of Weaver High School, Hartford. After working for a few years in the retail clothing business, Mr. Simon and his brother- in-law, Morris Weiss, founded Plastic Distributors, a wholesale housewares firm which operated successfully for over three decades. Mr. Simon lived for most of his life in Hartford and West Hartford, CT but later moved to Delray Beach, FL. After the passing of his beloved wife Faye in 1998, he moved to Raleigh to be near his daughter Judith, and benefit from her loving care. He is survived by three children, Leonard Simon of San Diego, CA, Judith Muse of Raleigh, and Alan Simon of Bethesda, MD, and by seven grandchildren. Though utterly committed to his family and his business, Mr. Simon found time for many other activities, including his two favorites, the Jewish community and local theatre productions. He was an active member of the Emanuel Synagogue in West Hartford, CT where he was a Life Member of the Board of Trustees, the Treasurer for several years, a member of the Endowment Fund, and a founding member of the “minyonaires.” After his arrival in Raleigh, he became actively involved in Beth Meyer Synagogue. In the theatre, he appeared in more than a dozen plays, working his way up from supporting parts to leading roles. He performed with the Mark Twain Masquers, the Triangle Theatre, the Oval in the Grove, and other theatrical groups, and particularly enjoyed roles in musical comedies such as “On the Town,” “Guys and Dolls,” “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” and “South Pacific.” Funeral services will be held on Sunday, February 26, at 11:00 AM in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford, CT with Rabbi David Small officiating. Interment will follow in the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, Wethersfield, CT. Contributions in memory of Mr. Simon may be made to the Fay & Saul Simon Endowment Fund at the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Dr., West Hartford, CT 06117 or to Beth Meyer Synagogue, 504 Newton Road, Raleigh, NC 27615. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Mr. Simon with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.