OBITUARIES

Aug. 21, 2015

Jerome ‘Jerry’ Simon

Jerome ‘Jerry’ Simon, 86, of Walnut Creek, CA passed away on August 8, 2015.

     Simon was an accomplished baseball and softball player who was once a pitcher in the New York Yankees minor league organization. An inductee in the U.S. Senior Softball Hall of Fame in 2004, Simon primarily played with Gamblers and Tiodize D-99 as a second basemen.

     “Jerry was a great second basemen. I always wanted the ball hit to him,” said ‘Spider’ Pitzer, a longtime friend and teammate on D-99. “And what a hitter! You could not set-up a defense when he came up to bat. I remember he would walk up to the plate, look where the defense was, pick a spot and hit it there. My line-up was always easy, I just put Jerry up first and went from there. He was one of the best senior hitters.”

     Not just a great ballplayer, Simon also had a big heart and kind demeanor that went well with his love of softball.

     “Jerry was a great ballplayer. His life was softball. He was one of the nicest guys you’d ever meet,” said Ed Denoncourt, teammate and friend.

     “Jerry was a true supporter of the sport. His energy was so high. It was electric on the softball field and off. I feel very honored to call him my friend,” said SSUSA Executive Director, Fran Dowell.

     “Jerry was a kind person and reliable Hall of Famer in every respect. Senior softball has lost a legend and we have lost a great friend. He will be missed by all the players that knew him,” added Pitzer.