56 | JUNE 8 • 2023
A
lan Simons spent
every day helping
people improve
their smiles — literally. Being
a dentist, he improved his
patients’ teeth, enabling them
to feel more confident, smile
more, live in less pain, and
have a better life.
But just as he put smiles on
the faces of his patients, he
did the same for his family,
friends, and all people he
met. Dr. Alan M. Simons, 62,
of West Bloomfield, died May
25, 2023.
Alan was born June 23,
1960, to the late Sheldon
and the late Ethel Simons.
He grew up in Livonia and
Southfield. After graduating
from Southfield Lathrup
High School, Alan set out
to become a dentist like his
father.
He attended the University
of Michigan and after only
three years of undergrad,
he was accepted into every
dental school he applied to
and chose the U-M School
of Dentistry. He started his
dentistry career working with
his father for about two years.
Around that time, his father
suggested that Alan learn
implant dentistry, a field just
starting to gain in popularity.
Soon after, Alan was off
to New York to complete an
implant dentistry fellowship.
During his training, he
co-authored a book on the
subject and became an expert
in the field. After moving
back to Michigan, Alan
taught many of the dentists
in the community and
enjoyed working with them.
He also started the general
practice residency program
at the University of Detroit
dental school and earned
tenure after only two years.
Alan started his own private
practice in 2006.
Dr. Simons was known
for his bedside manner —
calling each surgical patient
later that night to ensure
they were feeling alright and
giving each patient
his personal cell
phone number.
“His patients loved
him. Everywhere
we went we
would run into
a patient that
would tell me how
much they loved
Alan,” his wife,
Nancy, recalled.
His wife Nancy
remembered, “When Alan
became ill, and had to
close his practice, one of
his patients told me, ‘I will
forever be grateful to your
husband, I took very poor
care of my teeth, and Dr.
Simons gave my mouth a
second chance.’”
Alan was above all a family
man. He met his beloved
wife Nancy, during their
freshman year at U-M. They
were married for 37 years.
“He was the best husband
anyone could ask for,” Nancy
said. Alan and Nancy went
on to have four kids: Helene,
Debbie, Robbie and Michael.
Alan was known to have
the gift of gab. It didn’t matter
who you were; he would
engage you in conversation
and make sure he came to
know everything about you.
He had a wonderful sense of
humor, which he maintained
even when battling cancer.
Alan was meticulous and
detail-oriented. He was
also incredibly well-read
and worldly, but humble.
He valued hard work and
education.
Alan coached several of the
sports Robbie and
Michael played. He
was known as Coach
Al, and all the players
admired and loved
him, and he had a
lasting impact on
many of his players.
His kids were his
world. Even with his
busy work schedule,
he made it to all of his
children’s activities
and events.
Alan believed in doing
mitzvot, giving tzedakah,
and taught his children to
do the same. He mentored
a young boy through Jewish
Family Service and delivered
Meals on Wheels. When he
had to close his practice, he
donated his dental equipment
and arranged for the Jewish
Dental Clinic to take over his
office space.
Alan was full of life and
had many interests he
shared with his family and
many friends, including
waterskiing, snow skiing,
camping, hiking, running,
sailing, and bike riding. He
was known for his activity-
based friendships and friends
from all walks of life. He
loved being Jewish, being in
shul, and celebrating holidays.
Alan was a lifelong member
of Congregation Shaarey
Zedek.
His wife and four kids,
“the six pack” as he called
the family, were the most
important things in the world
to him, and he made sure
they knew it. Nothing brought
Alan more joy than when his
grandchildren, Daria, Sari,
and David were born.
“I know that our children
will instill in them and future
grandchildren the values
that Alan passed on to them
and keep his memory alive,”
Nancy said. Alan fought
cancer with every bit of
energy he had to be there for
his family for as long as he
possibly could.
“Of course, we will
remember you for the
wonderful life you lived, the
endless memories we share,
your guidance, wisdom, and
the immense impact you
had on others, but also the
courage you exemplified over
this last year and a half will
be celebrated and continue
to inspire all who knew you,”
Robbie said in his eulogy.
“Your life was cut too short,
but your impact is strong
enough for hundreds of
generations that will follow
you.”
Dr. Simons is survived by
his wife of 37 years, Nancy
Simons; daughters and
sons-in-law, Helene and
Jeffrey Feldman, and Debbie
and Max Barack; sons and
Alan Simons: Dentist, Family Man
and Renaissance Man
DANNY SCHWARTZ STAFF WRITER
OBITUARIES
OF BLESSED MEMORY
Alan Simons