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