AUGUST 24 • 2023 | 21
parent-teacher conferences, his teachers
would all regularly comment on how
Simon was the only student who every
day, without fail, would wish them a good
morning when arriving and a great day
when leaving.
“Every teacher said he was a teacher’s
dream,” said Simon’s aunt, Lori Tunick. “I
was an educator for over 20 years. When
I hear teachers say that, they’re saying this
kid was above and beyond. And that’s how
Simon lived his life every day.”
Simon was highly intelligent, and
school came easy to him. He began on an
advanced math track in elementary school
and was always a year ahead in the subject
from that point on. He enjoyed math, but
as a whole, he often said he wasn’t being
challenged enough in school.
Simon recently received the highest
score possible on his AP World History
exam and was even planning to take a
college class in his upcoming junior year
at North Farmington High School.
Beyond school, Simon was inquisitive
and curious. He sometimes would begin
conversations with his parents about the
most random topics that no one would
expect an everyday teenager to know
about. When his parents asked why or
how he knew about the topic, Simon
would respond that he was interested
in it and so he read a book or did some
research. If something sparked Simon’s
interest, he would find a way to learn
more about it.
Simon had a unique quality, at his age,
to relate and carry on conversations with
adults just as easily as he could with his
peers. “He was an old soul,” Michelle said.
A well-known trait of Simon’s was his
tech-savviness — one of his many self-
taught talents, which also included playing
the guitar and cooking.
At Warner Middle School, Simon would
sometimes get called out of class by the
principal, not because he was in trouble,
but because there was a tech issue. They
knew he could fix it.
Simon truly enjoyed helping others,
whether it was family, friends or strangers.
In Alaska, Simon took the time on the
bus traveling between trip sites to help
prep fellow campers for their PSAT and
SAT.
“
And he did that in school,” Michelle
recalled. “We had somebody tell us they
went to Simon when they were struggling
because they knew he knew how to do it
and had the patience to teach them.”
Scott added, “And as smart and talented
as Simon was, he was very humble about
it. Not a bragger. He would only talk
about himself when he was asked.”
ALWAYS WILLING TO HELP
When his little sister Sami had questions
Michelle and Scott didn’t know the
answers to, they would send her to Simon,
who always found a way to help whether
it was with math homework or to set up a
Minecraft account.
Simon and Sami had a five-year age
difference, so there was the natural
“annoying little sister” relationship. But
at the end of the day, Simon would do
anything for her. “He was her protector,”
Scott said.
Simon playing
guitar at camp
in 2021
Simon on the
Alsakan trip
Simon on May
18, 2023, his
first day of
driving
continued on page 22