22 | AUGUST 24 • 2023
Simon’s respectful, kind nature was
expressed in a multitude of ways. Helping
his grandparents get around, checking on
a loved one if they weren’t feeling well,
riding over on his bike if an aunt or uncle
needed something set up or a garage
cleaned — Simon was there to help,
simply because he wanted to.
“Whatever crappy grunt work I needed
help with, for Simon it was always, ‘Yes,
how and when can I help you?’ And he
was actually disappointed if his schedule
didn’t allow him to help,” Tunick said.
Family was a priority to Simon.
Birthdays, holidays or just to hang out —
if Simon could be there, he was.
For his bar mitzvah gift, Simon chose
to go on a family cruise. He took the
time to research hundreds of cruises and
what they offer, eventually choosing the
one that satisfied everyone in his family’s
interests. His checklist was important,
but above all, he wanted to make sure
everyone else had the best time possible.
As Simon got older, family would
lovingly tease him about some of his
“geekier” interests they didn’t necessarily
understand, whether it be Dungeons &
Dragons or robotics. Simon, confident in
himself and who he was, would respond,
“I like it. I’m proud of it. This is me.”
LIVING HIS BEST LIFE
Simon started working at Jewish Senior
Life about two years ago, which is where
he met Rebecca Mills, his girlfriend.
Simon would share his passion for
cooking with Rebecca, sometimes
making her dinner. Her favorite was the
grilled cheese sandwiches he made in
the shape of butterflies. The two of them
enjoyed each other’s company, hanging
out and talking.
“He was always there if you needed
him,” Rebecca said. “Always a presence.
Even if he couldn’t physically be there,
if you were to call him and say you need
something, he would sit on the phone
with you. He cared about everyone with
his whole heart.”
In Alaska, Simon was living his best
life. He appreciated nature and the
beauty of the outdoors, and he greatly
enjoyed the hiking and playing Euchre
with his friends and counselors. He was
looking forward to fishing on the trip,
an activity he also enjoyed at home with
family.
The Mirkes’ family received a letter
after Simon passed, with him expressing
how beautiful Banff was and how he
wanted to return as a family so they
could enjoy it together.
Simon went to Tamarack for eight
summers. Every year Simon came home,
Michelle and Scott witnessed how the
camp helped him grow.
“It allowed him to let the other side
of Simon out that he maybe reserved
during the school year. I think it’s where
he was his happiest,” Michelle said. “You
saw the independence, confidence and
the friends he gained from it. It helped
build him into who he was.”
A LIFE CUT SHORT
On the afternoon of July 17, while on a
hike in Alaska with the rest of the campers
and counselors on the trip, Simon
collapsed.
After moving him to a more stable area,
CPR was instantly started. Many nearby
agencies responded to the situation, and
there were several passersby who tried
to assist in saving Simon’s life, including
a cardiac nurse who stopped to help
with advanced tools such as an AED and
Epinephrine. A Life Flight helicopter with
paramedics arrived amongst the efforts.
“One of the conversations we had
is they were going to load him on
the helicopter and try more life-
saving measures. They did, from our
understanding, intubate him. And then
it was determined that to get him from
where he was to where the helicopter
could safely land, they would have to stop
CPR. And, at that point, to stop CPR,
there was no starting it again, basically.
He never got on the Life Flight, and it was
determined he had passed,” Michelle said.
About an hour and 45 minutes of life-
saving efforts took place before Simon
died.
“It was nothing short of heroic what
they tried to do to save him,” Scott said.
Simon was in good health prior to the
trip, was working out regularly and passed
his pre-camp physical with no issues.
Michelle and Scott made the decision to
pass on the autopsy.
“There’s a bunch of theories,” Michelle
OUR COMMUNITY
Simon and his
mom, Michelle,
in 2019
Simon and his
sister, Sami,
hanging out at a
restaurant
continued from page 21
continued on page 24