With heavy hearts, his family wishes to inform his friends that Ernest G. "Ernie" Simon passed

away on Tuesday morning, January 28, 2020.

Ernie was the eldest son of Linda and Alexander A. Simon, born on May 7,1925, in Delray Beach,

Florida, becoming a part of the "Simon family", a pioneer family of Delray Beach, starting with his

grandfather's arrival in the town in 1912.

Ernie attended Delray Beach public schools from first through twelfth grade. During his high

school years he played all three sports, and in football played two positions, quarterback and

end, for the Delray Beach Seahawks. Following graduation in 1942 from Delray Beach High

School, now Old School Square, he enrolled in the University of Florida. During that first year

Ernie, enlisted in the U.S. Navy to serve during World War II.

After the war, Ernie attended Bucknell University where his latent love of the theater emerged

while performing in their theater group Cap and Dagger. He graduated with a B.S. degree in

Commerce and Finance. In 1954 he received his Juris Doctor Degree from the University of

Miami Law School. In 1956 he began practicing law in West Palm Beach. In 1967 he opened his

own office in Delray Beach, where he served as the Municipal Judge for 10 years. His firm

became known as Simon and Schmidt when David Schmidt became his partner in 1987. Carol

Crowel has been his legal secretary, dear friend and "daughter" for 37 years.

Ernie devoted his life to the betterment of his hometown community of Delray Beach. During

the past fifty years, Ernie has been very active in civic affairs in his beloved hometown of Delray

Beach, serving as a member of the Board of Directors and as President of numerous civic

organizations, including the Greater Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Drug Abuse

Foundation of Palm Beach County, and the Delray Beach Playhouse (seven terms). He also

served on the Board of Directors of the Rotary Club of Delray Beach, the Mae Volen Senior

Center, Palm Beach Community College (now Palm Beach State College), and Palm Beach

Community College Foundation and the vestry of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Delray Beach.

Ernie and his brothers were recognized by Old School Square for a combined 120 years of civic

leadership in Delray Beach.

His other awards of recognition include a Life Member of the Board of Directors of the

Community Chest of Greater Delray Beach, Delray Beach Community Service Award, Rotary

Club of Delray Beach Service Above Self Award, The Lifetime Achievement Award presented by

the Delray Beach Chamber of Commerce, and the Delray Beach Playhouse "Ernest G. Simon

Scholarship Fund" that provides scholarships to students in the performing arts.

Ernie's great love was the theater and acting primarily at the Delray Beach Playhouse, where he

appeared in more than sixty-five theater productions. He wrote, produced and performed

onstage annual Christmas plays for forty-five years at the Playhouse, He also wrote and

produced a show for the Diamond Jubilee, entitled "Delray How I Love You". And for the

Centennial celebration, he wrote and produced "From Linton With Love".

Ernie's beloved wife of 54 years, Norma, predeceased him in 2014. Ernie is survived by his

three brothers Roy (Beth), Charles (Jeanne) and Sandy (Christy), his dearest friend and cousin,

Zicky Simon who he referred to as another brother, and 9 nephews, 3 nieces and 15 grandnephews

and grandnieces. And while they were not blessed with their own children, they lovingly

embraced their brothers' children and grandchildren as if their own,

The family will receive friends on Friday, February 7th at Lorne and Sons Funeral Home, 745 NE

6th Avenue, Delray Beach from 6-8 pm. A service will be held at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 188

S, Swinton Avenue, Delray Beach on Saturday, February 8th at 11 am followed by a reception

and celebration of Ernie's life in the Parish Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be given in Ernie's memory to his two

favorite charities: The Delray Beach Playhouse Ernest G. Simon Scholarship Awards Fund c/o

The Community Foundation, 700 South Dixie Highway Suite 200, West Palm Beach, FL 33401

and to The Drug Abuse Foundation of Palm Beach County, 400 S. Swinton Avenue, Delray

Beach, FL 33444.